Was that a hint of coolness I felt in the morning air?
Did I really sit on my deck without getting completely drenched with sweat?
Why, I think it is almost fall, y’all! Time for all the glorious bounty of fun activities the season brings. And it is prime time for agritourism in Georgia. It is time to hitch up the hay wagon, look for the perfect pumpkin, have an ice cold apple cider slushy and get out and explore the countryside.
Agritourism is any activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public for recreational, entertainment or educational purposes, and to view or enjoy rural activities. These could include farming, ranching or making wine; historical, cultural or harvest-your-own activities, or natural attractions.
More than 600 farms in the state are open to the public at some point during the year. According to Kent Wolfe with the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, the 2012 farm-gate value of agricultural and nature-based tourism was around $194 million. That created an economic contribution of $351 million in revenue and 5,200 jobs in Georgia.
Why has there been a boom in agritourism?
The general population is several generations removed from the farm. Children and adults have no idea where food comes from and how it gets to the grocery store.
At the same time, people are more interested in eating healthy and buying local. They want to not only meet the farmer, but to see where the product is grown and learn about the process. The public also wants to spend days closer to home and explore their local area and state. Agritourism allows folks to do all of these things and have fun.
I have learned a lot of things on the job in the last few years that even as a native Georgian I never knew:
• Never wear a long shirt or your favorite long scarf around goats or sheep.
• Georgia food products are the best in the world, and they have awards to prove it.
• If you try everyone’s ice cream and food products in the state, you may gain 20 pounds.
• GPS rarely works on a dirt road. Thankfully, many agritourism destinations have great signage.
• No matter how tired or frustrated you may be, when a child with a red (blue or black) fruit-stained and sticky face and hands throws his (or her) arms up in joy, you can’t help but smile.
So as the fall creeps up on us, make a “to do” list of local activities. Take your children or grandchildren and wind your way through a corn maze. Find the perfect pumpkins, flowers and corn stalks to decorate your house from a local farm. Go to the mountains and pick some apples, have a fried pie or apple cider doughnuts. Pet some farm animals; they make you feel better. Eat at a farm-to-table restaurant. Try a new flavor of jam or jelly or barbecue sauce. Have a glass of wine a few feet from where the grapes were grown. Take a horseback ride through the mountains, meadows or beach. Go see how something is grown or made and buy local.
Visit a part of Georgia you have never seen before. And look for farms that support this state and generate the $79 billion that keeps us going. They are not limited to north or south but are spread out all over and show some of the best parts of rural life. Find them by going to our website, www.georgiagrown.com, looking for the state's green agritourism directional signs or asking at your local chambers of commerce.
Cynthia Norton is the agritourism manager for the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
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