Agricultural Tourism

Many Sierra Nevada counties are seeking ways to enhance the agricultural sector through related agricultural tourism. Agritourism allows farmers to create another farm-related revenue channel working in tandem with traditional farming operations to increase the enterprises financial viability.

Agritourism includes:
• Local Farm Sales: U-pick operations, roadside stands, and farmer’s markets
• Outdoor Recreation: Fishing, hunting, wildlife study, horseback riding, and dude ranching
• Entertainment: Harvest festivals, hay rides, barnyard dances, corn mazes, and petting zoo
• Hospitality Services: Guided wine tours, farm stays, restaurants, and spas
• Educational Experiences: Cooking classes, wine tasting, and industry exhibitions

Unfortunately, farmers face a number of obstacles when contemplating some of these options. For example, local zoning ordinances and other land use restrictions can impede a farmer’s ability to establish agritourism opportunities. In addition, liability and insurance costs, large initial capital outlays and the need to change mindset from a farming focus to a hospitality focus, can keep farmers from pursuing such options. Farmland protection and promotion acts, like the Williamson Act, can also restrict a farm business’s ability to achieve sustainability using agritourism and/or value-added practices.

To enhance agriculture in the Sierra Nevada, local governments must implement land use policies in ways that permit, even encourage, farmers to enhance farming operations through value-added activities. California’s Institute for Local Government recommends that local government and planning agencies:

• Encourage flexible zoning that acknowledges the significance of value-added enterprises in the general plan and allows for the construction of agricultural facilities in agricultural areas. Concerns about misdirected development can be mitigated through use of conditional use permits.
• Think creatively for extended growth. There are creative ways to encourage growth and a sustainable agricultural industry. Some of these may include incentives, reduced permitting fees, development agricultural commercial zones, etc.
• Provide education to local industry. To bolster economic development, local agencies can encourage or host conferences on direct-to-market techniques, support business development and entrepreneurship through training programs, and assist local producers in developing linkages to the food processing and manufacturing industries.