Agritourism

Have you ever been to a farmer’s market? toured a winery? picked your own blueberries? These activities are all part of agritourism.

Agritourism refers to activities, events, and/or services related to agriculture. There are three main categories: activities on a farm or ranch (orchard tours, u-pick operations, sleigh/hay rides); food-based activities (farmer’s markets, winery tours, etc.); and heritage activities (historical museums on agriculture history, farm machinery, pioneer cabins, rodeos).

Over the last two years the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the Colorado State University Extension has been investigating agritourism trends in the state and examining the economic impact of “agritourists.” They have published several interesting online reports as part of their “Economic Development Report” series.

• • The Future of Colorado Agritourism: A Look at Current and Future Participation Decisions. September 2008. 10 pp.
  • The 2006 Economic Contribution of Agritourism to Colorado: Estimates from a Survey of Colorado Tourists. November 2007. 9 pp.
  • Agritourism in Colorado: A Closer Look at Regional Trends. July 2007. 7 pp.
  • Colorado’s Agritourists: Who are the Adventurers, the Seekers, and the Explorers?. July 2007. 10 pp.
  • Of Wine and Wildlife: Assessing Market Potential for Colorado Agritourism. June 2007. 8 pp.