Agri-Tourism

"Agricultural Tourism" includes a set of economic and social activities that occur and link travel with the products, services, and experiences of agriculture.

The Tourism Center

• Consults with local producers and tourism marketing groups about agri-tourism issues
• Assist development of agritourism products such as the Three Rivers Wine Trail

University of Minnesota

• Center for Integrated Natural Resource and Agricultural Management (CINRAM)
• Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
• University of Minnesota Extension

Local Marketing Organizations

• Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Country Heritage Adventures
• Fun in the Country (self-guided tours)
• Lake Country Scenic Byway
• Sips of History: Wine, Beer, & History Trail
• This Old Farm / Paul Bunyan Land
• Three Rivers Wine Trail
• Courier, p.26 (pdf)

State and Federal Agencies

• Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
• Explore Minnesota
• Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Publications
• Minnesota Grown Directory (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)
• Minnesota State Government Agencies
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• USDA Small Farm Program

Other Links

• Agritourism in Minnesota - A New Growth Industry
• Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Area
• Cultural Heritage Tourism
• Eckert AgriMarketing
• Green Routes
• HandMade in America
• Local Harvest - Farm Listings
• North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association
• Renewing the Countryside
• Small Farm Center, University of California

Publications

• Agritourism: Health and Safety Guidelines for Children. 2006. National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Safety, Marshfield, WI.
• Birkencamp, J. A. 2005. From Barn to Banquet: Opportunities and Barriers to Greater Use of Minnesota Grown Food at Conferences, Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
• Central Minnesota’s Farmers Markets. 2004. Central Region Partnership, Staples, MN.
• George, H., and E. Rilla. 2005. Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California, University of California.
• Gustafson, K. 2005. “Successful Ag Tours Start Here….”, Itineraries Minnesota.
• Gustafson, K. 2007. Building Bridges: Connecting Agriculture & Tourism (.ppt).
• In the Eyes of the Law: Legal Issues Associated with Direct Farm Marketing. University of Minnesota Tourism Center, St. Paul, July 2002.
• Jewett, J., B. Nelson, and D. Braaten. 2007. Marketing Local Food. Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.
• Marketing Minnesota's Fields and Forests: Research on the Potential for Developing a Farm Stay Database and Joint Marketing Program in Minnesota (.pdf)
• The Economic Contribution of Grape Growers and Wineries to the State of Minnesota (.pdf)

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Agritourism Fact Sheets (Iowa)

• Agritourism Associations and Networks (.pdf)
• Agritourism Marketing (.pdf)
• Best Management Practices in Agritourism (.pdf)
• Online Agritourism Resources (.pdf)
• Risk Management and Liability in Agritourism (.pdf)
• Successes and Challenges in Agritourism (.pdf)
• Zoning and Health Considerations in Agritourism (.pdf)

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Questions & Answers about Rural Tourism Development

Q&A About Rural Tourism Development (1993). 128 pages. Tourism experts answer common questions about rural tourism development, based on issues raised by rural community leaders at the national teleconference Turn It Around With Tourism.
Price: Q&A About Rural Tourism Development is available free online.

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For more information contact:   
Kent Gustafson (kgustaf@umn.edu)

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