Archive for Agritourism Today
Why Should Agritourism Farms Consider Blogs?
My recent fall farm survey found that 23.1% of the respondents currently are using Blogs as part of their farm marketing strategy. The farms using this technology told me that they feel that it brings people to their website more frequently, develops an exchange of information with their customer base and may possibly increase their page ranking on an “organic” search. Three very strong reasons for agritourism operators to consider blogs.
About 45% of these farmers post new information to their blog weekly and 50% of them believe it increases their business. While farmers may have limited time to be reading online blogs, it does not mean that they shouldn’t create one for their farm. I’ve heard farmers tell me how much they enjoy telling people about farming and their business.
The blog content can be as simple as “what are you doing today?” With the ease of adding photo’s to the blog farmers are showing the city folks the fields, the animals, the equipment and the barns. I certainly plan to continue to encourage more farms to consider blogging as part of their marketing plan. It sure can’t hurt and in fact as I’ve been told “it can even increase business.”
Family Farm Co-op Sells Directly to Charlotte Restaurants
I recently came across an article in the Charlotte Observer telling about the Farmers Fresh Market that was established by the North Carolina Economic Development Center. The farm co-op is selling their products directly to chefs in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Chefs can simply log onto the co-op website to find out what is fresh and have the produce delivered direct to their kitchens within 24 hours of harvest.
This initiative is now in the third year and both the small farmer and the chefs say it’s a WIN-WIN for everyone. The small farmer is growing and delivering a broad variety of fresh produce that would not always be available and can do so on a frequent basis. Many of these farmers are even growing crops they had never heard of until they started working with the local chefs.
The chefs are excited because they are able to source local foods and some exotic offerings regularly and plan their menus based on the co-op supply of product. Many of these are high-end products that also provide a very good return for the small farmer. The program is showing these farmers that you don’t always need large acreage to produce a reasonable income.
There is no doubt that alternative marketing channels can benefit the small farmer. The Farmers Fresh Market Co-op is doing a great job of putting local fresh fruits and vegetables in the hands of local restaurants.
Virginia Promotes Agritourism
Recently, I have been doing research in the state of Virginia regarding agritourism operators because I will soon be speaking in Richmond at the 7th Annual Small Farm Family Conference. It is often very difficult doing individual state agritourism research to find a good directory or even a poor directory of agritourism operators in the state.
However, I want to brag on the State of Virginia Tourism Department because they have done a great job in integrating farms and orchards into their website www.virginia.org for easy look up.
The search begins with a page titled “Living the Country Life” and from this page you can go to either Farm Stays or Day Trips. If we want to make it easy for people to find our farms we need to be sure our state tourism departments include us on their websites.
The other alternative of course is to search the Internet for farm activity directories that can provide us this information such as www.ruralbounty.com or www.cornmaze.com. These are two farm directories covering agritourism operations across North America.
The Internet is now the primary marketing tool of choice. It’s time for all states to follow the lead of Virginia and prominently highlight their agritourism operators. Actually – it’s a win-win for tourism and agriculture and the consumer.
Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches & More on Family Farms!
The first day of October and time to plan your trip to the local pumpkin patch. I have recently spent time in both Alberta and Ontario and pleased to report that fall season offerings have grown across North America to become a favorite family weekend activity. Of course, there are many agritourism farms that still have plenty of apples ripe for picking.
Corn mazes, pig races and pumpkin cannons continue to dominate fall festivals on agritourism farms. It appears that farmers today are truly enjoying coming up with new attractions to delight their guests. Other activities that I have seen on farms this year include: duck races, tube swing, maze in an orange grove, jumping pillow, zip line, underground slide, parrot feeding, animal shows, barrrel rides, gem mining, silo climbing, kids karaoke, evening haunted hayrides, flashlight mazes, bonfires and many more.
It is time to plan your trip now to go apple picking and pumpkin picking before time gets away from you. For a listing of farms in your area that offer great fall season experiences just go to www.ruralbounty.com to find farms near you.
Agritourism Farms featured by Kansas Farm Bureau
It’s not often that we see a farm publication that gives us in-depth coverage of agritourism. However, that is exactly what the Kansas Farm Bureau magazine, Kansas Living, has done for their September issue. I invite you to view their magazine on line and read the articles titled “Just down the Road,” “Ranch Rodeo,” “Prime Picks,” or “Unhurried Hunting.” All articles provide an in depth look at what is going on in Kansas, and feature some of their top operators.
Kansas Farm Bureau Magazine, Sept. 2009
Mike Matson, the Director of Communications and Public Relations, called me early this summer to discuss this upcoming issue and to get my feedback regarding not only Kansas agritourism but to discuss agritourism in general. In fact, he included a Q & A page where he interviewed me for “Let’s Talk Agritourism” on page 15.
Kansas was one of the early states to recognize the potential for their farmers to get involved in agritourism. Of course, as we now know, every state and every province in Canada is embracing agritourism, and that is why we created the North American database directory www.ruralbounty.com and www.ruralbounty.ca for people to find these types of experiences all across our continent.
In order for our agritourism industry to thrive we all need to be constantly marketing our message. I applaud the Kansas Farm Bureau for paying tribute to these Kansas family farmers–farmers that have become part of this important value added niche we call “agritourism.” I hope to see more farm publications to do the same.
E-Mail newsletters provide agritourism farms best ROI
Just in case you have not heard of ROI before it stands for Return on Investment. It’s been substantiated that e-newsletters have become the marketing method of choice for not only big companies but also for the small companies. Why? Because it is the most cost effective method to stay in touch with your best customers.
While marketing statistics by email providers such as Constant Contact tell us that an average “open rate” of an e-newsletter is between 12 – 19%, I have found farms getting as high as a 40% open rate. As agritourism operators, we have a very close connection to our customers and they want to know – what we are picking today, what will we be picking tomorrow, what events do we have planned for this weekend etc.
Further research by Epsilon in 2008 tells us that 57% of consumers feel they have a more positive impression of companies when they receive email from them. I know farms that still aren’t utilizing this marketing tool as they should and frankly I don’t understand.
The time to start gathering email addresses is now. Whether you post a sign at the front of your market or add a box on your website for sign-ups – it’s time to begin.
E-Mail sign up table
Vote Now for “America’s Most Favorite Farmers Market”
The American Farmland Trust is hosting a national contest to recognize the “most favorite” farmers markets in America – Small – Medium and Large. If you are are a supporter of your local market and believe they deserve this recognition I encourage you to VOTE NOW. The deadline for voting is midnight August 8th.
Summer is the time when we all enjoy the local harvest and support our family farms. The American Farmland Trust is an organization that supports and wants to sustain farming in the United States. I encourage you to go to their website (whether you want to vote or not) to learn about their mission and their vision.
You can support local farmers by joing the AFT and becoming a member. When I became a member there was a bonus gift of a reusable shopping bag with the words – No Farms No Food. I use this bag proudly as I check out at my local supermarket and bag my own groceries and often get a second glance at my bag.
Yes, I’m a farmer’s daughter and proud of it! If you want to support your local farmers market VOTE NOW and give them the recognition that they deserve.
Pick Your Own Farms – Now Accepting Customers
Across North America many family farms are now open to sell their fruits and vegetables and many also welcome folks to come pick their own. Often, as farmers, we don’t recognize how very special this outdoor, picking experience can be for our customers until we hear them tell us.
I spent some time last week at our family peach orchard talking with a few of our pick your own customers. My interns were along with me and we captured some of these conversations on video. We have posted the video on YOU TUBE and welcome you to take a look and give us some feedback.
Now is certainly the time for everyone to come and visit local family farms and farmers’ markets to buy our local, farm fresh products. If you haven’t had a pick your own experience or don’t know where to find these farms, just visit us at Rural Bounty to locate the best of North American agritourism destinations.
