Archive for Technology
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.
New Agritourism Lingo – Let Go Glamping!
Recently, I learned about a new travel trend on the Today Show called “glamping.” In short, it’s glamorous camping. Taking your family or special someone to a luxurious camp, yurt or covered wagon on vacation has now become popular. You can choose the pricey version for up to $2,850 per night or find other locations that might better fit your budget. There is even a Go Glamping website or Glamping Girl site that shows you a lot of vacation choices.
However, my choice for adventuresome travelers wanting a special experience would be to overnight at a farm or ranch. There any many options for overnight vacationers across North America to see the rural countryside, observe the nighttime sky, watch the animals in the fields or the crops being harvested. Check out some choices at Rural Bounty.
If you want to read the full article about “glamping” by Laura Coffey a Today Show.com contributor just go click on her article “Go Glamping! 10 tips for a budget adventure.
Home Food Canning is On the Rise
The home food canning industry reports that the sale of Ball and Kerr canning supplies is already 50% more than 2008. This particular trend is great news for farm producers of fruits and vegetables. As agritourism farm operators who sell farm products direct to the public, it is important we understand what is happening with the “buy local” food movement and how we can capitalize on the publics desire to preserve their own food.
- People now taste the difference of homegrown food picked at the peak of ripeness
- People want to meet the farmer who grows their food
- People want to preserve the homegrown flavors and serve them year round
While many people have an interest in preserving food at home most people have never done it before. I encourage you to offer classes at your farm on canning and freezing when you are in the midst of harvest. (Often your local extension agents will assist you with these classes.) I just read about a community kitchen in San Francisco www.yeswecanfood.com where 80 people showed up to preserve local foods. Many other cities now have community kitchens where you could host your own classes if you don’t want to have them on the farm.
Sell the canning supplies, pectin, fruit fresh and other products people will need for home canning. You might want to check out www.freshpreserving.com to get more ideas about the “how to” and recipes. Educating people learn how to preserve their own foods will help you sell more product and strengthen your connection with your customers.
On Agritourism Farms – Operators Can Manage Guest Safety
Farm guest safety is one of our biggest concerns on family farms. In fact, many farms are reluctant to get involved in agritourism enterprises because of the unknown risks and liabilities. I would never let these fears stop you from pursuing agritourism enterprises, however, it is smart to do your homework before starting new endeavors.
Three of the best publications that I’ve seen telling about how to protect the public from injury, explain good sanitation practices, emergency planning and much more are available online from the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety out of Wisconsin.
The three publications are: Agritourism Health and Safety Guidelines, Policies and Procedures Guide and a Worksite Guide. All of these publications can be downloaded for free.
If you are contemplating getting involved in agritourism or currently involved, you will want to read and review these great “free” resources.
Organic Food Sales Continue to Soar – Join a local CSA!
As a farmer’s daughter raised on traditional production agriculture, I had a hard time a few year’s ago understanding the total organic food movement. Now, I realize it’s all about choice!
My mission in life is to help family farms succeed and grow their businesses through direct sales, and more specifically, by inviting the public to their farms to purchase their products and engage in on-farm activities. The word for this specialized type of producer is an “agritourism” operator.
Many conventional and organic producers today engage in agritourism, as well as those selling their products direct through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription program such as Tangerinis Farm in Massachusetts or Family Farm Fresh in Visalia, California. Therefore, whether consumers make a choice of organic production versus conventionally grown, they are always supporting local farmers.
Once the public takes this to the next step and realizes that purchasing locally produced fresh food is better for both them and the environment than the “shipped in” fruits and vegetables – we all win! The Organic Trade Association just reported that sales of organic food rose by 15.8% in 2008. This continues a double digit growth for organic food sales for over the past decade.
Often the biggest challenges for consumers is to find these local food producers–whether they sell on farm, at a farmer’s market or direct through a CSA. I’d like to suggest two websites that will help you find local producers as well as agritourism providers. Local Harvest is an online database directory helping you find organic producers anywhere in the United States. Rural Bounty is an online North American database directory that features both types of farm producers, as well as an easy way to find those offering agritourism activities.
The bottom line – by supporting your local family farms you are helping them sustain themselves. The choice is yours!
Agritourism Farm Boasts 1st Orange Grove Maze
I am often asked, “what’s next in agritourism?” Thanks to Bob McKellar at the Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch in Ivanhoe, California, I can tell you that this Easter there is a 1st in agritourism. The first two weekends in April, families are invited to accept the challenge of finding their way out of a 9 acre orange grove maze.
Weather permitting the fragrance of the orange blossoms will be at the peak of their bloom. We are all familiar with corn mazes, hedge mazes, box mazes, straw mazes etc. but no one (until now) had thought of trying a spring maze on a family farm in the midst of a blooming orchard.
Thanks to Maize Quest and their design assistance - Seven Sycamores will be bringing families to the farm to enjoy the orange grove maze, see the Easter Bunny, participate in games and just have fun. I always say that the scope of agritourism activities is just defined by the creativity of the farmer. Congratulations to Bob and staff for coming up with the 1st Orange Grove Maze.
To find more farms offering family activities this Easter be sure and visit the North American agritourism directory on www.ruralbounty.com
New Ag Census Just Released
The new Ag Census tells us that more people went into farming in the past 5years. This is no surprize to me because I continue to meet these people at farm conferences. This is not only a trend in the U.S. but I just returned this week from Moncton, New Brunswick and met a couple of people who have done the same.
Of course, most people still must relay on their “day jobs” to support their farming interests. However, I am pleased to tell you that as farms embrace the concepts of agritourism they are increasing their revenues. Next week I will be speaking in both Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Red Deer, Alberta to further the education and skills for family farmers to succeed in agritourism.
Here is an article from last week’s New York Times that gives you more information collected from the 2007 U.S. Ag Census
