AUGUSTA — The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is introducing an agritourism training and coaching program.

The free program provides farms offering agritourism the opportunity to expand their business goals. All details and a program application are listed at maine.gov/dacf/ard/market_promotion/agritourism.shtml.

“Agritourism is a long-standing tradition in Maine. Farms that want to include this as part of their business plan do so because it can offer marketing opportunities. As more research and data become available about how farms can integrate agritourism into their businesses, we want to be supportive and forward-thinking,” said Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Director Craig Lapine, according to a news release from the department.

“We want to enhance how communities support Maine farms and raise awareness about agriculture. Agritourism is a way to help people connect with farms. Farmers want to share stories, sustain businesses, and steward working landscapes. This pilot course will help us give farms the type of expertise they seek so they can plan for the future,” Lapine added.

Selected applicants will receive on-site farm visits, consultations, and a remote (online) course.

The course size is approximately 20 participants, including individuals or multiple business members from a farm, brand collective or co-op.

Applicants should be an established farm with existing agritourism enterprises. Examples include berries, orchards, wineries, vineyards, fruit, and vegetable, cut flowers, Christmas trees and maple syrup. Examples of agritourism enterprises include direct marketing (farm stands, stores, CSAs, farmers’ markets, u-pick, choose and cut) and other types of farm sales channels.

The program will be available regularly, with the first group of participants to begin in spring 2023.

Preference is given to applicants who apply by Wednesday, April 12. Farms must complete the application before being chosen to partake in the approximately year-long course. The department anticipates offering the course to more farms in the future.

This call for applications is open enrollment. Interested farms should apply for consideration (including for a future course).

 

 

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