Keep it simple when adding an agritourism aspect to your farm

By now you have probably heard the word, “agritourism”.  Without a doubt it is one of the fastest growing aspects of agriculture in the U.S.  In fact, in the past ten years USDA statistics show that income for farms offering some type of agritourism venue has doubled from just $2,000 annually to over $4,000. 

But before you go out and put in a corn maze or add on a commercial kitchen so you can offer farm-to-table dinners, remember that when growing any business you should keep it simple and start small. Because the mere definition of “agritourism” is any activity that brings tourists to your farm think about what you can add to what you’re already doing that will increase the public’s experience when they’re buying that bushel of apples or u-picking strawberries.

One of the easiest and very economical things to do is to simply add some seating - like a picnic table or benches where your customers can sit and eat some of the fresh fruit they’ve purchased.  You can also prolong their visit by selling some non-perishable snacks (that don’t require a license or inspection to sell) like bottled water and snack size potato chips, etc.).

Offering tours of your farm, fields, and orchards is another inexpensive thing to do.  While you may think walking through your squash patch or tomato field is boring, someone who lives in the city will find it fascinating.  For someone who doesn’t know anything about farming learning about the plant life cycle of the produce they are buying , as well as its care (weed/pest control, fertilization, irrigation), can be a very eye-opening experience.  Even seeing the equipment used for planting your crops will be thrilling for someone who’s never seen a planter or been up close to a tractor. 

Another inexpensive activity is to hold an open house – during which you can offer free samples of produce, hold drawings for giveaways, and give tours, etc.   Cooking or canning demonstrations are also good draws during an open house.  If you don’t want to do the demonstration yourself see if a local home economist or chef would come to your farm and speak.

 

Asparagus Season - Consider Selling Your Crop Roadside

I literally grew up in an asparagus patch.  My mother often talked about taking us out to help our grandmother pick asparagus and setting us in a bush basket at the end of the row under a tree.  Of course, that was back in the 1960s - before child services would have come after her for some kind of child abuse.

Growing up on our farm in southwest Michigan our crop season always started about now with asparagus.  By the time I was five or six I was riding the motorized carts my dad had made and helping to pick asparagus.  We put in several new fields over the years - both raising crowns and purchasing them for planting.  The last of our fields were plowed under in the late 1990s. Today, along the road next to the former fields, asparagus grows voluntarily and is enough of a crop for family and relatives who live nearby.

For most of the 20+ years we grew asparagus commercially we did so for the canneries.  However, sometime in the 1980s we started selling it (pre-ordered) to the public, as well.  Not only was it profitable, it required no overhead.  We didn't even have a stand.

Should your fields be alongside a road - simply take some bags and a scale with you when you go to pick.  It will only take one or two people stopping to see if you will sell them some fresh asparagus before the word will get out.  It did for us and some days we sold so much that we barely had a bulk box left to take to the cannery.

Once you establish a customer base - make sure they are aware of the short season for asparagus.  Reminding them of you projected end date will ensure they get their orders in ASAP.

Don't Let A Slow Start To Spring Slow Getting Ready For The 2015 Season

Although I haven't seen any daffodils up yet here in Michigan I have been hearing the frogs in the pond across from our farm . . . . so I think spring is on its way!

Spring indeed  has been slow to come to us in the Midwest and I hope last weekends sleet/snow is the last will see until net winter . . .

Sometimes a slow start can get us off to a bad start with our agritourism operations for the upcoming season.  Remember April 1 is right around the corner and in just a few weeks it will be time for early crops like greens/spinach, lettuce, rhubarb, and asparagus.

Now that the weather is getting more agreeable you need to probably do a little clean-up to your farm stand or other agritourism business as you plan to re-open to the public this spring.

Here is a list of clean-up projects:

• Clean up any dead matter like dried up grasses, flowers, etc.
• Empty any containers left out over the winter that may have collected leaves and other debris
• Check for/and remove rodent nests and bees nests in your farm stand/market, and other structures.
• Spruce up signs and building exteriors that may have faded over the winter - with a new coat of paint.
• Inventory supplies like bushels, pints, jumbos, bags, etc. and order items you are low on.
• Check your building(s)  mechanics: bathroom, lights, refrigerators, cooler, etc.  Repair or replace what doesn't work.
• Repair/fill in driveways & parking lots that may have lost gravel/chunks of pavement from winter plowing.