It refers to tourism activities conducted on working farms and ranches for recreation, entertainment or educational purposes. Common activities include pumpkin patches, winery tours, on-farm corn mazes, u-pick berry patches, harvesting or educational workshops. It aims to attract visitors to a working farm to gain a sense of rural life activities and to purchase locally grown/produced goods.

Motivations for Starting an Agritourism Operation

 With declining profit margins in traditional Agritourism , many farmers are looking for additional revenue streams to supplement their income. It provides opportunities for farmers to attract new customers and markets while utilizing existing agricultural resources and infrastructure. Some key motivations for farmers include:
- Generating new income from non-agricultural activities to sustain farm operations
- Educating the public about modern agriculture practices and rural lifestyles
- Marketing and selling value-added products like jams, baked goods or crafts directly to consumers
- Utilizing farm buildings, open spaces and farm equipment when not in active agricultural use

Planning Your Agritourism Operation

Careful planning is essential for a successful agritourism business. Farmers need to assess their existing resources and infrastructure, identify activities suitable for the farm setting, project costs and potential revenue sources. Some important planning considerations include:
- Selecting suitable activities based on resources, location, customer interests
- Creating a business plan including market research, operations plan, staffing requirements, insurance, licensing
- Designing farm facilities, signage and marketing communications for optimal customer experience
- Addressing biosecurity, safety, accessibility and liability risks through appropriate protocols
- Obtaining relevant permits and licenses related to particular agritourism activities
- Developing partnerships for promotions, distribution and supply chain linkages
- Setting prices for activities, sales of products or events to achieve profitability goals.

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