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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 09/26/2008 06:41 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 09/26/2008 06:41 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Agriculture is Transforming in Calaveras County and Throughout the Foothills!~By Elizabeth Wilson
Calaveras County, CA...."Agriculture is transforming in Calaveras County and throughout the foothills. In 2000, travel and tourism composed nearly 11 percent of the global economy. Since 2001, agritourism specifically has grown in popularity. Agritourism is business conducted by farmers or ranchers on their working agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operations for the enjoyment and education of visitors. It is intended to promote farm products and to generate additional farm incomes. ....
“If you eat food or wear clothes, you’re already involved in agriculture,” said Holly George, University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor for Plumas and Sierra counties. “An important part of agritourism is to help tourists and the community to understand and appreciate what’s beyond the barnyard gate.”
Commonly known as “agitourismo” in Italy and “sleeping in the straw” in Switzerland, tourists will pay to stay and help operate a farm or other agricultural operation because they want to participate in a lifestyle they can’t find in the big city.
California Agritourism is on the rise and unique festivals and working farms and ranches are attracting visitors from all over the country.
“Agricultural tourism programs provide a bridge between the urban and rural,” said Susan Wilcox, vice president of communications for the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC). “Each year, thousands of visitors book the Golden State to take part in these diverse activities that are both enjoyable and educational.”
“Agritourism attracts foreign travelers as well as travelers who live close but in densely populated areas like Sacramento,” said Tracey Berkner, President of the Amador Council of Tourism. “More and more food and hospitality magazines are showcasing farms and are writing travel stories about finding where local products are made because people want to know where food comes from.”
Each county in California has scenic, cultural and historic attractions of potential interest to visitors and it is important to expand the definition and foundations that support agritourism destinations in Calaveras County.
“If you had a train ride operating on your property, that’s not agritourism. But if your train goes through an apple orchard and give tours while visitors sip on apple cider, that’s agritourism,” said Ken Churches, Calaveras County Farm Advisor for University of California Cooperative Extension.
“Apple Hill in El Dorado County is a great example of agritourism. If they grew apples to sell to grocery stores alone, they would never be able to keep up with the business being imported from China and Chile,” Churches said. “But, people flock to Apple Hill for the pies and the jams and the hay rides. And while they visit, they give the local economy a huge boost by starting in hotels and eating at local restaurants.”
Travel and tourism industries contribute to the statewide economy because they make up the fourth largest employer in California. But local economies can especially profit from an influx of agritourists.
“All local businesses from lodging to dining to gas stations benefit from agritourism,” Berkner said. “Daffodil Hill was agritourism before everyone knew what agritourism was because it attracted so many people to the little town of Volcano.”
Wineries are a perfect illustration of established agritourism.
“Special events, weddings and concerts can offer relaxation and recreation for agritourists,” George said.
Agricultural and nature tourism provide farmers and ranchers a chance to diversify their operations, supplement their incomes, improve their communities and care wisely for the land. These enterprises can turn tourists into strong allies of family farms and ranches and of the wildlife, habitat and open space these operations conserve.
“Farmers and ranchers should be encouraged by the community to add value to their property,” Churches said. “We have a golf course in Calaveras County on an olive orchard that offers bird watching, nature hikes and visitors can tour the orchard and even make their own olive oil to take home with them,” Churches said.
The Trinitas Golf Club in Valley Springs was built within a natural landscape that includes century-old oak trees and olive orchards. The property is one of the oldest olive orchards in all of Calaveras County, and owner and architect Mike Nemee has successfully preserved the agricultural legacy by integrating existing old growth olive trees into the golf course and continuing educational tours of olive orchard operations.
“Golf courses are not agritourism alone, but they can be used as an accessory to help support the agriculture,” Churches said.
Because of the focus on agricultural success blended with the recreational resource, the site has been designated as one of the only agritourism destinations of its kind in the region.
“All visitors to Trinitas are able to tour the olive orchards where they will be able to see first hand how we harvest, press and produce our organic olive oil,” said Nemee.
Once in operation, Trinitas will generate significant tax revenue for Calaveras County while preserving the natural beauty and open space of the surrounding countryside.
“The course itself was developed to utilize the natural contouring of the land, maximize the use of indigenous materials and minimize environmental impact,” Nemee said.
Agritourism operations, like the Trinitas Gold Club, stimulate the economy of a region by attracting both local out of town visitors to spend money while enjoying and learning about the agricultural endeavors in California."
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