Last week's ceremonial signing in Oregon marks a shift in how local farms can diversify and thrive—an exciting development for both farmers and the community.
From California to Colorado, farmers are opening their doors to visitors, creating a whole new experience for those seeking local flavors and fresh air.
In 2023, small family farms sold $2.4 billion worth of food commodities directly to consumers, more than any other farm type, through outlets like farmers’ markets, farm stands, and community-supported agriculture.
More and more farmers are looking for alternative income streams and ways to bolster their farms’ bottom line. One way is through direct-to-consumer sales.
Agritourism and the economic and social opportunity it provides, the family farms and communities they serve, continues to expand.
“There are large, diverse opportunities there and it really depends on your situation, your farm, and what you produce,” noted Audrey Comerford of Oregon State University Extension.
The div...
Last week, central Washington’s Dan Newhouse and Virginia Representative Suhas Subramanyam introduced legislation creating an Office of Agritourism at USDA. They say the bipartisan Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces Act, better known as the AGRITOURISM Act will represent the interests of agritourism busines
Not only is agritourism as an industry growing, so is data to better recognize and understand the sector and its trends. Audrey Comerford of Oregon State University Extension broke down the data from the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture.
“1.9 m...