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Agricultural tourism is a commercial enterprise at a working farm, ranch or agricultural plant conducted for the enjoyment or education of visitors, and that generates supplemental income for the owner.
Agritourism can include farm stands or shops, U-pick, farm stays, tours, on-farm classes, fairs, festivals, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, winery weddings, orchard dinners, youth camps, barn dances, hunting or fishing, guest ranches, and more.
The UC Small Farm Program, working with county-based UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors, provides resources for agritourism operators and hosts California's statewide directory of agritourism operations.
On this page:
Visiting a farm?
CalAgTour.org is a statewide directory that can help you:
Farms and ranches: It's free to sign up online. List your activities and events.
Promote yourself: Here's a flyer about the directory to share
Networking
Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter for everyone involved in California agritourism.
Agritourism Intensive
The UC ANR Small Farm Program and UCCE are working with local partners to offer three-session agritourism planning classes during Winter 2012-2013 in Sacramento, Merced and San Diego Counties. Space is limited - sign up now! Learn more...
Survey of agritourism operators 2009
Researchers from UC Cooperative Extension and the UC Small Farm Program conducted California's first statewide economic survey of agritourism operators in 2009. Reports from the survey are below.
- California agritourism operations and their economic potential are growing
This peer-reviewed research article was published in California Agriculture Volume 65, No.2, April-June 2011. - First statewide agritourism survey yields early results
This article is an overview of preliminary findings from the 2009 survey, from Small Farm News vol. 2, 2009. - Survey of California agritourism operators, 2009 (1.96 MB)
This presentation shares additional data and graphs, and was first presented at the 2009 National Extension Tourism Conference
Business planning & management
- Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California (2011)
This 150-page workbook aims to assist farmers and ranchers in developing an agritourism enterprise. - Planning and Managing Agritourism and Nature Tourism Enterprises- A Handbook (2006)
This 44-page primer includes articles on topics related to starting an agritourism operation and has a chapter on creating a business plan. - Agritourism enterprises on your farm or ranch: Where to start (2008)
Peer-reviewed, 6-page article (PDF) with step-by-step introduction to dealing with regulations, for agritourism operators.
- Factsheets and worksheets for getting started:
Marketing an agritourism operation
- Marketing strategies for agritourism operations (2011)
Peer-reviewed, 21-page chapter (PDF) that explores marketing strategies, inlcuding understanding the market, developing messaging, launching a campaign and other topics tailored to agritourism operators. - Survey of agritourism visitors: These research briefs (PDFs) from the Small Farm Center are based on a 2004-2005 survey of residents in Yolo and Sacramento Counties, to examine consumer trends and agritourism.
- General California tourism information
Statistics and information from the California Travel & Tourism Commission.
- Marketing factsheets:
Permits & regulations
- Planning for and Regulating Agritourism in California
Resources and links with examples of regulatory language related to agritourism in California, intended primarily for use by county planners, agritourism advisory committees, regulators and other decision makers. - Agritourism enterprises on your farm or ranch: Where to start (2008)
Peer-reviewed, 6-page article (PDF) with step-by-step introduction to dealing with regulations, for agritourism operators. - Agritourism enterprises on your farm or ranch: Understanding regulations (2008)
Peer-reviewed, 8-page article (PDF) that explains categories of regulations affecting agritourism operators, including which rules fall under whose jurisdiction. - Obstacles in the Agritourism Regulatory Process (2003)
Brief (PDF) from the UC Agricultural Issues Center examines perspectives of agritourism operators and officials in 10 California counties. - AB 2168: Farm Stand Regulations
This article from Small Farm News explains AB 2168, which took effect in 2009. - California Agricultural Homestay Bill (AB 1258)
Text of the bill.
More information
- What is Agritourism?
Defines various types of agritourism operations - All about Agritourism
A presentation by Ellie Rilla at the Feb. 2012 Sonoma Agritourism Workshop - Regional agritourism studies
Articles and presentations by members of the UC Agricultural and Nature Tourism Workgroup: - Small Farm News Agritourism Farm Profiles
Archived stories of individual agritourism operations in California and elsewhere. - Additional Resources
