- Author: Penny Leff
The University of California Small Farm Program and UC Cooperative Extension advisors in four California regions are working with local partners to organize Regional Agritourism Summits for everyone involved in California agritourism. The summits will be occasions for farmers, ranchers, county planners, the tourism community and others involved to share, learn and plan together.
Regional Agritourism Summits 2017
Agritourism operators, tourism professionals, county, city and state staff and officials, community organizations, agricultural organizations, tour organizers and all others who are connected to California agritourism are invited to join the conversations. Presentations and discussion topics will include county regulations; marketing plans; social media and event organizing training sessions; itinerary development; liability; financing ideas for agritourism development; and more.
Each summit was planned by a local team to best reflect the needs of the region, so each will be unique. Each summit will be a participatory, all-day session with lunch provided.
Participants are invited to bring marketing and organizational information to display and share.
To register, please see http://ucanr.edu/summits2017. A registration fee of $25 is requested, payable online or by check. Agendas for the summits are available on this site.
- Yolo/Sacramento/Solano Agritourism Summit:Monday, Feb. 13, 2017
UC ANR Building, 2801 Second Street, Davis CA 95618 - Sonoma/Marin Agritourism Summit: Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017
Petaluma Community Center, Lucchesi Park, 320 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma CA 95954 - Stanislaus/San Joaquin/Merced Agritourism Summit: Thursday, March 23, 2017
Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358 - Riverside/San Bernardino/San Diego Agritourism Summit: Wed., March 29, 2017
La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Pkwy, Riverside, CA 92505
UC Small Farm Program Agritourism resources
The UC Small Farm Program has been working for more than 15 years with UC Cooperative Extension advisors and others to develop resources and connections for California agritourism operators. The UC agritourism website hosts useful factsheets and research. The online agritourism directory and events calendarhelps visitors find farms and ranches to visit. And, the monthly California Agritourism newsletter shares news and resources for the agritourism community.
Funding for this project was provided by the USDA Farmers' Market Promotion Program.
More information: Penny Leff, UCCE Agritourism Coordinator, paleff@ucdavis.edu, (530) 752-7779.
Farmers and ranchers are invited to attend an agritourism planning course being offered by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources in three Northern California locations this winter. UC ANR Cooperative Extension is working with local agricultural and community organizations, tourism professionals, and experienced agritourism operators to offer the three-session Agritourism Intensive beginning in December in Quincy, Modesto and Redding.
Farmers and ranchers who are considering, starting or expanding agritourism or nature tourism businesses on their farms or ranches are invited to register for this low-cost, hands-on course.
“Agricultural operations offer a wealth of beautiful natural resources and unique experiences with local farmers and ranchers,” said Holly George, livestock and natural resource advisor and director for UC Cooperative Extension in Plumas and Sierra counties. “With prices, competition and water situations the way they are all over California, it can be hard to make a living. The UC ANR workshops will give farmers and ranchers the contacts and tools to more successfully grow and market their individual agritourism enterprises, adding to their income and helping spread the risk of tough production years.”
Participants will learn about the variety of potential businesses, including farm stands, U-Pick operations, farm stays, event hosting, tours, festivals, education and outdoor recreation. Each participant will receive a free copy of the UC ANR handbook, “Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California,” which will be used as the text for the class.
Experienced agritourism operators and experts will discuss business planning, risk management, regulatory compliance and marketing. Class instructors will provide individual guidance and help participants form a supportive network as they plan and develop their own agritourism or nature tourism businesses.
Plumas County Agritourism Intensive:
Register: http://ucanr.edu/agtourplumas
Dates: Tuesdays, Dec. 1, 2015, Jan. 12 and Feb. 23, 2016
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each session (lunch provided)
Location: Mineral Building, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy, CA 95971
Cost: $50 for 3-session course (only $20 for additional participants from same family or business)
Shasta County Agritourism Intensive:
Register: http://ucanr.edu/agtourredding
Dates: Wednesdays, Jan. 6, Feb. 10 and March 16, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each session (lunch provided)
Location: The McConnell Foundation Lema Ranch, 800 Shasta View Drive, Redding, CA 96003
Cost: $50 for 3-session course (only $25 for additional participants from same family or business)
Stanislaus County Agritourism Intensive:
Register: http://ucanr.edu/agtourmodesto
Dates: Thursdays, Dec. 10, 2015, Jan. 21 and Feb. 11, 201
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each session (lunch provided)
Location: Harvest Hall, Stanislaus Co. Ag. Center, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358
Cost: $50 for 3-session course
For more information, contact Penny Leff, UC ANR Cooperative Extension agritourism coordinator, at paleff@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-7779.
Funding for this project was provided by the Washington State University Western Center for Risk Management Education and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
- Contact: Penny Leff
The maps and updated websites suggest driving seasonal tours through olive ranches, vineyards, stone-fruit orchards, farm stands and farms. The Sacramento Delta region drive takes visitors along raised levees in a maze of waterways. Capay Valley boasts a long stretch of scenic beauty between two mountain ranges where pioneering organic farms hold yearly festivals. The North Yuba region, mountainous and seemingly remote, directs visitors from wineries to olive ranches and production facilities to a historic barn, while offering lakes and camping options.
Financed through a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant awarded to the UC Small Farm Program to enhance rural tourism and promote specialty crops, the three agritourism groups were given help creating maps, updating their websites, promoting an event and learning how to sustain their groups.
“Sometimes the best way to appreciate how lucky we are to live in California is to see and taste what our amazing farmers are growing,” Penny Leff, Small Farm Program agritourism coordinator says. “And it's a great way to see California,” she adds.
Though California produces nearly half of U.S.-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables, the public rarely gets to meet the farmers and view their operations. Discovering California through farms and off the usual destination track is an opportunity for short-distance day trips or weekend getaways. Events such as Open Farm Day in Capay Valley on October 5, August Passport Weekend in the Delta and May Tractor Day in North Yuba offer great food and family participation.
Editors: Full release and photos, click this link:
The University of California Small Farm Program focuses on the challenges and opportunities of California's small-scale farm operators. The three new farm trail maps are part of a project funded by a California Department of Food and Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block grant, and managed by the UC Small Farm Program.
Agritourism Groups
North Yuba Grown
Capay Valley Grown
Sacramento River Delta Grown Agritourism Association