Agri-tourism. Now there’s a word I’d not heard before. But apparently it’s a blossoming development in Upstate New York tourism. With the ski season over (did it ever really get started this year? Where was all our snow?) and the official summer tourist season not set to begin until May 31 (why does it start so late, anyway?), Upstate farmers are enjoying some attention thanks to the maple syrup industry.
Here’s a good story from Capital 9 News in Johnstown:
If you’re looking for a sure sign that spring is on its way, you don’t have to go any farther than the Mohawk Valley where maple syrup production is in full swing. Our Mark Repasky was out tapping the trees and finding out how syrup producers hope to cash in on a growing trend.
As the snow subsides and temperatures rise, Steve Savage grabs his drill and starts tapping for sap. “I tap about six thousand trees,” Savage said. To get the most out a season that only lasts between six and eight weeks, Savage has to be ready to go before temps start climbing.
The video clip is very good. It’s short, too.
I’ve visited a few farms as an “agri-tourist.” The kids, however, have only been to one farm, an alpaca farm in Sauquoit, NY. It’s been a desire of mine to take them to some local dairy farms and orchards so they can see what the Upstate economy is all about.
Hat tip Northview Diary. 
|
|
|
|
|
 |
March 19th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Agritourism is booming - and welcome to the farm!
March 19th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Welcome to Agritourism — the farm, the farmer’s market, the farmer’s produce stand, the U-pick-it farm, the restaurant that features locally grown food, the bed and breakfast that ties itself together with a goat farm and produces cheese, the emu farm, the blueberry farm, the apple farm, the peach festival, the collards festival, the barbecue festival, the art display of craftspeople who have turned wool into hats, the art display of photographers who have captured flowers opening, the orchid show, the flower show, the retail store that sells locally canned fruits and vegetables, the cooking school that shows how to create Low Country meals - and the list goes on. This list and much more comprises Agritourism. It’s big business and has been around quite awhile. Happy travels, happy eating and happy farming!
March 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Hi Greta. You seem to know everything about Agri-tourism! And here I was, thinking it was something new.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
No, actually North Carolina is catching up. States out West have been doing farm tours for years. I’ve been working on several agritourism projects with state agencies to identify farms - and anything to do with them. I’m developing agritourism driving trails in northern South Carolina. Peaches, strawberries, blueberries - the recipes, the personalities, the learning process of which melon tastes better than another — so much fun!