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Diversification Options for Agritourism Operators in the Northeast

Claudia Schmidt and Sarah Cornelisse

Summary

With the increasing sales of agritourism in the US, small- and medium-sized farms have a chance to thrive and contribute to their local communities' economic development. Our presentation focuses on our recently completed NERME project titled "Venturing Beyond the Pumpkin Patch – Expanding Diversification Options for Agritourism Operators in the Northeast." We provided training to small farms on marketing strategies and legal risks associated with diversifying into agritourism activities. Through a series of webinars, we introduced new opportunities and discussed the legal considerations involved. Additionally, we published Extension articles to share best practices in less popular or emerging agritourism options. We also worked closely with five operators in the Northeast, assessing their current businesses and exploring potential new ventures. The farms provided point-of-sales (POS) data, which allowed us to conduct a thorough analysis. We evaluated their websites, social media presence, activities, and opportunities. Furthermore, we analyzed the surrounding population demographics and expenditure behaviors. Based on our findings, we provided recommendations for successful agritourism options. Our project evaluation showed that there is a growing interest in agritourism among small- and medium-sized farms that goes beyond the typical offerings and towards more targeted customer bases. As more farms diversify into agritourism activities, there is a need for proper training and guidance on marketing strategies and legal considerations.

Details

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