Agritourism
The "locally grown" trend is also creating interest in farm and ranch tours, adding a potential revenue stream to agriculture operations.
Winery visits in the region continue to grow, but agritourism has expanded beyond sniffing, swirling and sipping. As part of the trend toward locally grown food, consumers are becoming more interested in visiting the farms and ranches where their food is grown.
Local economic development and tourism bureaus are working to develop more tours and eventually draw out-of-region travelers to these destinations. Agritourism is a key component of economic development planning for rural counties including maps of farms and fruitstands, annual farm and barn tours, local grown initiatives, wine tasting tours, the popular Apple Hill district, and development of a Delta farm tour. These tours not only connect consumers to the source of their food, but also enable farmers to eliminate transport costs altogether if they sell products on-site.
Produce stands have traditionally been an outlet for local fruits and vegetables, but they have also become a venue for offering value-added products. Agritourism can also include restaurants and hotels for visitors from out of the region, which keeps tourists in the region longer and increases the potential revenue for this industry.
