Agritourism tour helps producers and processors

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

An upcoming agritourism and farm direct marketing bus tour for producers and processors will offer farmers and processors the opportunity to learn, network and share ideas.
The tour, scheduled for Sept. 14, will feature three different farm stops – Seeds to Greens, Rocking R Guest Ranch and Country Lane Farms – where the operators will share their experiences with agritourism and farm direct marketing.
Seeds to Greens is a vegetable community-supported agriculture program and Country Lane Farms offers direct-to-consumer sales of naturally raised chicken. Rocking R Guest Ranch runs a bed and breakfast, and provides other events such as farm-to-table dinners.
According to Wendy Gerbrandt, community economic development co-ordinator with Community Futures Wildrose, the goal of the tour is to encourage producers and processors to learn more about agritourism.
“[Also] how they can develop this into their business and consider it as a viable revenue stream, and to educate the public about food,” she said.
The tour will end at the Rocking R Guest Ranch where participants will learn how to host a culinary event, with local farms showcasing and providing food. Chef Judy Wood from Meez Cuisine and Catering in Calgary will demonstrate how to provide a farm-to-table dinner.
Colin Gosselin, senior project co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, said Seeds to Greens, Country Lane Farms and Rocking R Guest Ranch all participated in Alberta Open Farm Days this year and will share their experiences with the program.
“They are going to be sharing their experience with hosting the public on their farms, and one of the coaches from the coaching program who’s an experienced agritourism coach will be coming along for the day, sharing insights as well,” said Gosselin.
The tour is also open to economic development organizations and tourism operators, or anyone who has direct contact in working with agritourism and helping producers and processors expand.
The tour is designed to be an extension to the recent Alberta Open Farm Days and will be put on through a joint effort between Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta Culture and Tourism and Community Futures Wildrose.
“This ends Alberta Open Farm Days really nicely. It’s that next extension to make sure we’ve networked, connected, educated and shared, and passed on the information we all learned at Open Farm Days to others,” said Gerbrandt.
She added that agritourism is a concept in which farms open their gates for visitors to have an educational experience surrounding food. Visitors can learn the sciences behind farming, how to protect and harvest crops, how to create a culinary event and a wide range of other information.
Agritourism explains how food gets from the field to your fork, said Gerbrandt.
Space is limited on the tour, which costs $30 (prepaid) for each participant. Registration will be accepted up to Sept. 7.
For more information or to register, call Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Ag-Info Centre at 1-800-387-6030.