Agritourism can be considered a dirty word to farmers who really just want to care for their animals, grow their crops, make their products, and make a living. Most farmers are farmers because they love farming- the day-to-day operations of growing and selling products, managing a business, and working with a team to bring food, fiber, and flowers to life to share with their community.
In some instances, agritourism has been viewed as merely a marketing strategy by enterprises that don’t genuinely engage in agricultural practices. For example, there are many “farms” being built and purchased to be used as full-time wedding venues with a certain aestheticbut without any real farming activities. Some working farmers see this as diluting the value of genuine agricultural practices and creating a false narrative that farmers are simply entertainment providers rather than skilled caretakers of the land and animals.
The concept of “Agritourism” has been a part of the Adirondack Harvest program since its beginning in 2001, but we have reinvested in learning more about the opportunities it can offer our members in 2020 when we took on the administration of the Adirondack Cuisine Trails, joined an international effort to build an agritourism network connecting the Adirondacks to Quebec, Ontario and Vermont, and began making more meaningful partnerships with regional and statewide tourism organizations.
Through interactions with farmers and various partners, it became clear that supporting growth in agritourism could support local working farms and bring the Adirondacks closer to a more equitable food system. However, we heard a healthy amount of skepticism about the idea that local farms should shift their focus toward visitor management, marketing, and concierge services.
The feedback we gathered clearly showed that if we were to invest more time, resources and effort into supporting growth in agritourism in the Adirondack region, the primary goal should be to sustain and support working farms in their core operations, farming, rather than diverting their efforts into the tourism sector. We found that the emphasis should remain on agricultural practices that ensure the production of locally grown and harvested food and products rather than on creating off-brand tourist experiences.
The USDA defines agritourism as: “a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.”
While not legally considered agritourism, off-farm activities, like farm-to-table dining and farmers’ markets can also be considered agritourism.
Local, small farms diversify their income in many ways to remain agile and resilient in the face of economic and environmental challenges. Givenshrinking year-round populations, seasonal tourism is a major sector in the Adirondacks. With roughly 7-10 million visitors each year, tourism offers local farms a larger customer base to sell to.
Some agritourism offerings can support local working farms by extending their season and providing cash flow during times of the year that are usually quite slow. For example, farms near popular ski destinations may choose to offer special experiences, farm tours, and dinners to take advantage of the out-of-town traffic.
Agritourism also increases awareness and appreciation of local agriculture. People seeing how things are grown, raised, and processed offers a deeper appreciation of local farms and their products, and of the Adirondacks themselves. People travel from all over the world to experience the natural landscape of the Adirondacks, and the food that grows from itssoil, waters, and climate. The Adirondacks has its own terroir that is ripe for appreciation along with High Peak’s views.
So, how do we collectively tap into this? Because the tourism part of agri-tourism can be lucrative, there is a chance that businesses with a farm aesthetic can co-opt the concept and dilute opportunities for working farms to offer authentic agritourism experiences. Is a lake house rented on Airbnb with three horses in a meadow a farm stay? Does it matter what they call themselves?
Some farmers and small business owners LOVE agritourism. They love to host on-farm events, tours, and welcome visitors to the Adirondacks to get a taste of the landscape and their life. Agritourism can be a solid retirement plan, a resource to turn to during hard financial times, and a way for farms to market their products to a larger audience.
Our view is that we will continue to support our local farms in ways that help keep them farming. And, more people having exposure to small, sustainable, working farms supports the long-term goal of rebuilding a global food system that prioritizes local producers.
If having an Airbnb rental on their property supports farmers’ income, allowing them to afford to keep farming, that is a good thing. We want to keep farms in the Adirondack region farming and cultivating food, fiber, flowers and wood products for their communities.
Agritourism in the Adirondacks Looks Like:
Farm-Focused Markets and Festivals
Farmers’ markets and events that emphasize locally grown products are primary retail outlets for many small farms and producers. Tourists and seasonal second-home owners are the primary customers for many small farms, and farmers’ markets help remote farms connect with these higher-income customers in a centralized location. Efforts to keep the farmers in farmers’ markets are becoming increasingly important in maintaining them as an important part of the local food system, as well as an authentic and high-quality experience for visitors to buy locally grown food and products.
Wholesale Sales
Some farms indirectly participate in agritourism by selling their products wholesale to businesses that directly serve tourists such as restaurants, co-ops, and resorts. By sourcing locally, businesses can attract conscious customers looking to enjoy local and seasonal cuisine. Large regular orders from repeat wholesale customers also help the farmers’ bottom line so they can invest in things like sustainable farming practices and improving conditions and wages for employees.
On-Farm Lodging, Farm Stores & Experiences
Research shows that most tourists want to travel “like a local”. They seek authentic experiences that give them a connection to the landscape and culture of the people who live here. Farms are uniquely positioned to offer such experiences to tourists through on-farm lodging, tours, and special events. These experiences also offer education about sustainable agriculture and eating local.
3 Ways the Adirondack Harvest Program at CCE Essex is Currently Supporting Sustainable Agritourism:
- Boosting awareness of agriculture and sustainable agritourism across the Adirondack region, fostering stronger support for sustainable farming and forest practices.
- Working with collaborators to increase the visibility of agritourism and agricultural producers in existing tourism promotions. Working with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, many local chambers of commerce, I Love NY, and other partners encourage friendly partnerships that enhance resource sharing and collaborative marketing efforts.
- Using events, communications and outreach we bolster agricultural literacy among youth and adults alike, nurturing an appreciation for the region’s natural resources.
If you’d like to stay connected to our work on this topic, check out the Adirondack Cuisine Trails, and sign up for the Adirondack Harvest Weekly email newsletter here.
Funding for this project came from a 2024 Special Programs Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership
