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With New Jersey farmers facing rising costs and stagnant commodity prices, agri-tourism offers an important opportunity to generate additional farm income and keep farms economically viable. Agri-tourism presents opportunities for New Jersey growers seeking to add value to their crops and/or capture more of the market price of their products by directly accessing consumers. Many residents consider agriculture a novelty and something to be explored and enjoyed. They desire to share the agricultural experience while increasing farm income at the same time.听 New Jersey鈥檚 agri-tourism industry provides for a great introduction to the agriculture of the Garden State.听 The educational and economic contributions of agri-tourism to the state鈥檚 agricultural economy are many.听

A National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS) study conducted this year determined that the economic impact of agri-tourism upon New Jersey鈥檚 economy was $91 million in 2006. This quantitative information confirms the qualitative recommendations of a 2005 Rutgers University study that examined farmers鈥� and farm leaders鈥� perceptions of the opportunities and challenges associated with agri-tourism.

There are other states that have comprehensive agri-tourism programs and these will be studied as work moves forward to more closely cooperate with the various agencies that share a common interest in promoting tourism in New Jersey.听

A new interactive, GIS-based, agri-tourism industry website, 鈥渧isitnjfarms.org鈥�, allows for easy consumer mapping based on products, services and location, within a specified town or county, or within a specified driving radius of a user-defined beginning point.听 It also allows farmers password access to the site to provide updates to their own listing.

To assist in the development of the agri-tourism industry, the Department will be focusing on three major objectives: developing strategic partnerships, consumer promotion and industry education.

10.1 Develop Strategic Partners

76) STRATEGY 鈥� Continue to support the New Jersey Agri-Tourism Industry Advisory Council in their charge to develop, support, and market this sector of the agricultural community.听

77) STRATEGY听鈥� Continue working with the N.J. Office of Travel & Tourism (T&T) to develop and market agri-tourism. Develop three agri-tourism based travel tours for each of the state鈥檚 six tourism regions. Encourage T&T to integrate an agri-tourism press familiarization tour into their work. These tours acquaint the regional travel and tourism media with New Jersey agri-tourism. Encourage T&T to incorporate agri-tourism research into their established travel industry research program.听 Market agri-tourism to the travel and tourism trade through participation in the annual Governor's Conference on Tourism, cooperative advertising, and other industry opportunities.听听听听

78) STRATEGY 鈥揚ublicize the National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS) study that assessed the economic impact of agri-tourism upon New Jersey鈥檚 economy.

10.2 Consumer Promotion

79) STRATEGY 鈥� Produce and distribute an inexpensive agri-tourism brochure with industry websites and contact information. This brochure would promote seasonal events, special attractions, and direct farm marketing opportunities. Create and disseminate regular press releases promoting the agri-tourism industry and related websites. Work to expand the promotion of the agricultural fairs in New Jersey.听

80) STRATEGY 鈥� Continue to develop and promote the 鈥渧isitnjfarms.org鈥� website.

10.3 Industry Education

81) STRATEGY - Coordinate an Agri-Tourism symposium to address common opportunities and challenges and to provide some basic tourism and hospitality industry training.听 Work with Rutgers Cooperative Extension to develop and implement this training.

82) STRATEGY - Conduct tourism industry outreach activities for agri-tourism operators. Promote listings in the N.J. Office of Travel & Tourism鈥檚 鈥淐alendar of Events鈥�.听 Promote participation in 鈥淭he 2007 New Jersey Governor鈥檚 Conference on Tourism鈥�. Promote the use of the 鈥淭ourism Cooperative Grant Program鈥� to organizations representing various facets of the New Jersey鈥檚 agri-tourism industry.听听听听

83) STRATEGY听鈥� Continue to review, comment, and support work towards the adoption of agri-tourism Agricultural Management Practices (AMP鈥檚) as proposed by the State Agriculture Development Committee.听 Compliance with the agri-tourism AMP鈥檚 will aid grower protection under the Right to Farm Act.