Gone are the days when almost everyone had a relative or friend on a farm. Today, with fewer farmers producing more food, people have become disconnected with their food sources.
As populations increase and the cost of land and labor skyrockets, farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are trying agritourism, as other countries have done.
“Europe, Australia and New Zealand are turning to agritourism as one way to diversify their revenue,” Amy Webb of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in an email.
Colorado and Durango farmers and ranchers interested in alternative revenue streams for their agribusinesses – as well as tourism, heritage and arts professionals looking for new partners – will gather Thursday for a tour of ranches, farms and restaurants that make up La Plata County’s agritourism sector.
The tour will start at Linda’s Local Food Cafe, 309 W. College Drive, and end at the James Ranch in the Animas Valley.
The tour is part of Day Two of the second annual Southwest Tourism Summit, which begins Wednesday and concludes Friday.
Laura Grey, director Colorado Tourism Office, said agritourism attractions ranging from farm dinners to ranch stays have been popping up all over Colorado.
“The timing of (the tourism office’s) promotional spotlight on agritourism opportunities is an excellent match with current consumer demands,” Grey said in an email.
This is aimed at teaching people how restaurants can work better with local products and purveyors and how tourism, heritage and ag folks can partner better with local restaurants.
“These culinary food tours and restaurants will help to showcase on-farm and on-ranch activities to locals and visitors alike,” Grey said.
She said promoting agritourism in Colorado is rural economic development with the main objectives of putting those involved in the spotlight, and stimulating the development of fresh and new agritourism experiences for travelers.
“We also look forward to supporting clusters of businesses working together to develop and promote agritourism,” Grey said.
Judy Walden, of the Walden Mills Group and a member of the strategic planning team for the Colorado Tourism Office, said Colorado has offered travelers agritourism opportunities for years. Hunting, fishing and dude ranches, for example, have been around for a long time. More recently, corn mazes, pumpkin patches with entertainment, farmers markets and vineyard tours have been firmly established.
“New trends are locally grown or produced food and beverages, artisanal operations, on-farm dinners and cooking classes,” Walden said. “Across the state, Colorado restaurants are playing a key role in connecting travelers to farmers, ranchers and producers.”
Walden said these new agritourism products are commanding a healthy price, and are a good fit with what cultural heritage travelers demand – authenticity and quality.
“When travelers choose a destination, they expect to have choices,” Walden said. “It is important to offer a critical mass of other travel experiences geographically nearby in addition to the agritourism attraction.”
Dan Hobbs of the Hobbs Family Farm in Avondale, said as Colorado’s farmers and ranchers face the challenges of another drought year, it is very helpful to have a new arrow in the quiver.
“Agritourism is the next frontier for Colorado agriculture and is becoming a very important tool for rural economic development. Farm and ranch families will discover new opportunities to become profitable and develop important new allies,” he said.
Dorothy Nakaweesi is a visiting journalist from Kampala, Uganda.
Reader Comments