Agri-tourism
    • Tourism that brings public to Farm Enterprise.
    • Farm-related educational experience 
      combines farm setting and products of 
      agricultural operations.
    • Encourages purchase of agricultural products. 
    • Designed to enhance agricultural viability of 
      farm operations.
    References: American Planning Association (APA) ; Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources  (MDAR);  Indiana 
    State Department of Agriculture; and several other sources. 
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                  Farm Enterprise
    • Farming in all of its branches.
    • A commercial farming operation entitled to 
      protection under Massachusetts Zoning Act 
      under the Agricultural Exemption. 
    References: Mass. Gen. L. ch. 40A, sect. 3; Mass. Gen. L. ch.  128, sect. 1A; Agri-tourism  Bylaw.
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        Why encourage agri-tourism?
    • Agri-tourism works well in highly urbanized 
      Northeast. 
    • Proximity to urban centers (Worcester, 
      Fitchburg, Gardner).
    • Market opportunities, including direct 
      marketing and agri-tourism. 
    Reference: Shilling, Attavanich, Jin  (Rutgers).
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        Why encourage agri-tourism?
    • Farm agri-tourism income in US more than 
      tripled between 2002 and 2017.
    • Agri-tourism income in US grew from $704 
      million in 2012 to almost $950 million in 2017. 
    • Local trend consistent with national trend.
    • Agri-tourism and recreational services income 
      increased from $5.4 million in 2012 to $8.9 
      million in 2017 in Worcester County.
    References: Whitt, Low, and Van Sandt; and  2017 Census of Agriculture.
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                          Agri-tourism Income 
                   Income From Agri-tourism and Recreational Services 2007, 2012, 2017
        2018
                                                                                       2017
        2016
        2014
        2012                                              2012
        2010
        2008
                2007
        2006
        2004
        2002
            0            2,000,000       4,000,000        6,000,000        8,000,000       10,000,000
                                                   Amount ($)
      References: Census of Agriculture 2007, 2012, 2017
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