Great Lakes Agritourism Farm Market Bus Tour is June 12-13
May 21, 2007 11:02 AM
A unique farm market bus tour to showcase agritourism in Michigan is planned for June 12-13. Departing from Benton Harbor, tour goers will visit several of southwestern Michigan’s finest farm markets and agritourism operations in what promises to be an engaging and educational experience for those interested in learning more about managing a successful and profitable farm market or agritourism business.
The Great Lakes Agritourism Experience trip is sponsored by the Michigan Farm Marketing and Agri-Tourism (MI-FMAT) Association, The Fruit Growers News and The Vegetable Growers News.
Launched last summer, MI-FMAT represents the collective interests of Michigan’s farm markets and agritourism businesses at the local, regional and national levels, and helps solve industry-related problems and create new business opportunities. MI-FMAT efforts include addressing regulatory issues such as zoning and site inspections, and creating promotional and educational programs to encourage consumers to visit farm markets and agritourism operations.
The tour will provide a forum to share ideas and network while visiting a variety of farm markets and agritourism operations throughout the state.
“Michigan is unique because it has so many types of agritourism venues, from the U-pick fruit farms to farm tours to corn mazes and haunted barns to farm museums and pumpkin patches, and the list continues to grow,” says Patrick O’Connor, MI-FMAT Association executive director. “Though the state’s farm marketing and agritourism industries face many unique challenges, working together to find solutions to these challenges is truly a win-win situation. This tour is the perfect opportunity for people to network with and learn from other agritourism and farm market operators, see innovative production practices at work and pick up some marketing tips to apply to their own businesses.”
The tour kicks off June 12 with a welcome reception and dinner at the Lemon Creek Winery and Fruit Farm in Berrien Springs. Planned stops on June 13 are Barbott Farms and Greenhouse, Steve nsville; Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant and U-pick, Fennville; Jollay Orchards, Coloma; L.H. Piggott and Girls Family Farm and Farm Market, Benton Harbor; the New Buffalo Welcome Center; The Chocolate Garden, Coloma; and Tree-mendous Fruit Farm, Eau Claire.
The tour costs $89 for MI-FMAT members and $139 for nonmembers, and space is limited. The registration fee includes the welcome reception and dinner, lunch, snacks and bus transportation. Tour participants are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. For more information or to register for the tour, call Sally Ostman at 616-887-9008, or visit http://www.agtour.greatamericanpublish.com/ to register online.
For more information about the MI-FMAT Association go to http://www.mi-fmat.org.Subscribe to American Cowman Update e-newsletter!
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