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Eckert AgriMarketing Newsletter (click here for directory of past newsletters)
June 2007
A marketing tool for farmers, tourism professionals, extension agents, RC&D and more As I travel around the country, I am often asked, "What state is really leading the way in agritourism?" Well, I'll have to tell you that's it's our friends to the North - the province of Alberta, Canada.
Shortly after the conference, Bill Reynolds & Sharon Stollery, AgTourism Leaders, sent me a copy of their new agritourism DVD titled Expecting Company? That was several months ago, but I finally had some time in my office this week to watch the 40-minute video. It is excellent. I want to tell you about it and how you can order your own copy for just $20 plus shipping (plus $3 for orders shipped to U.S. addresses). The content walks you through the nine steps to get started and continue an agritourism business:
The video would be great for local agritourism meetings wanting to get farmers educated about the steps to consider starting these businesses. For the established operators, there is always need to review the basics. Click here to download the order form. I congratulate Bill and Sharon on a job well done, and encourage all of you to invest in your own education by purchasing their DVD. We can all certainly learn from each other, and there's no need to duplicate a good product when one is already available.
At the very latest, reservations and deposits must be received by September 15, 2007. Please visit my website for more information: Itinerary for 2008 Hawaii AgriTour |
The Alberta Agriculture and Food Department not only invests money to develop and promote agritourism, but they also have some of the most competent and dedicated staff that I have met-as witnessed by their great organization and hospitality at our recent North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Conference in February, 2007.
You may be aware that on January 11, 2008, we will begin our second Aloha AgriTour of the Hawaiian Islands. Traveling by cruise ship, we will visit four of the beautiful islands to see these unique and productive agritourism enterprises and learn how they grow and market unique products such as heart of Palms, lavender, vanilla, macadamia nuts, and guava.
This is our second tour of the islands working with Hawaii Ag Ventures of the Big Island Farm Bureau. We will visit several very special farms on the islands, and have three, Farm Stop Classrooms to learn directly from these innovative marketers.
We have started to receive reservations, and I need to be very candid about Agritour. The group is restricted in size to 44 travelers, as we travel by two mini-coaches to several of the local farm sites. Registration is first-come, first-serve, and the 2007 tour sold out in less than 4 weeks. There is a possibility of a second 2008 cruise immediately following the first, if the January 11-22 cruise fills early, but I cannot assure you of that happening.
