Agritourism is a commercial enterprise at a working farm or ranch conducted for the enjoyment and education of visitors that generates supplemental income for the owner or operator.
Agritourism activities include...
- On-farm Direct Sales (U-pick, farm stands, dairy, wine, beer, farm products, etc.).
- Accommodations/Lodging (farm stays, guest ranch, B&Bs, camping, cabins, etc.).
- Entertainment/Special Events (harvest festivals, corn mazes, farm dinners, weddings, parties, etc.).
- Outdoor Recreation (picnicking, swimming, hunting, fishing, photography, horseback riding, snowmobiling, biking, etc.)
- Educational Activities (farm or ranch work experience, camps, classes, tours, tastings, demonstrations, petting zoos, etc).
This website includes:
- Resources for everyone involved in California Agritourism, including:
- Information about the Agritourism Program, including:
UC SAREP works with UC Cooperative Extension and ANR staff to provide resources for those involved in California agritourism. This website includes resources created by UC ANR advisors and staff, presentations and other materials shared by agritourism stakeholders and educators at UC ANR agritourism workshops, and links to resources created by other universities and organizations.
Resources
Guides and Factsheets
Below are highlighted guides, fact sheets, and research for California agritourism. Much more information, including presentations, examples, and background information on various topics can be found on the California Agritourism website.
Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California Handbook: This book was written to help farmers and ranchers determine their tourism potential and walk through the steps of establishing an agritourism enterprise. It includes easy-to-use worksheets and activities, including creating business and marketing plans.
Getting Started
- Getting Started in Agritourism Fact Sheet: This 2-page fact sheet provides an overview of the various considerations for deciding if agritourism is right for your business and how to get started.
- Spanish-language version: Como comenzar en el agroturismo en California
- Evaluating Your Resources Worksheet: Complete this worksheet to asses your potential and learn what agritourism activities are right for you, if any.
Operation/Activity Specific
- California Farm Stand Fact Sheet: This 2-page fact sheet provides an overview of how farm stands are defined and general guidelines for operating a farm stand.
- Spanish-language version: Hoja informative de puestos agricolas en California
- Planning a U-Pick Operation on Your California Farm: This guide also includes a U-Pick Operation Partial Budget template.
- Guest Lodging on Your California Farm or Ranch: A practical guide including a budget template.
- The Big Event: Hosting a Festival on Your California Farm: This guide also includes a budget template for a farm festival.
- Hosting Dinners on Your California Farm: This guide also includes a budget template for farm dinners.
Highlighted Research
- Findings and Trends from Operator Surveys 2009-2019: This fact sheet compares key results across the ten year span of the three surveys of agritourism operators conducted by UC ANR (2009, 2015, 2019).
- Multi-State Study of Success Factors for Farms with Direct Sales and Agritourism. Results from a 2019 nationwide survey of agritourism operators. Overview of California responses and a comparison of California to the US.
- California's agritourism operations expand despite facing regulatory challenges. This article, published in California Agriculture Volume 74, No. 3, on October 20, 2020, presents findings from a collection of surveys, showing that agritourism operators in California need increased support from their local governments and the state regarding regulatory requirements.