Case Studies of Agritourism among Small Farmers in North Carolina

Abstract

Case study research was undertaken as an initial step towards studying the critical factors that influenced the adoption of agritourism as an additional enterprise by small farmers in North Carolina. The unit of analysis in this study was the principal operator of the farm that provided agritourism services. Human factors such as age, gender, household income before taxes, and ethnicity and educational background of principal operator were perceived to be the most common elements. Production variables such as total acreage deemed unsuitable for crop production, the farm organization, economic situation of the farm and the geographic location of the farm and access to internet were also deemed to be common features. The need to generate additional income was often cited among the goals of operators in adding agritourism to their farm operations. Most operators charged activity-based fees and cited weather and liability issues as the principal challenges to their agritourism enterprises. They had a more positive outlook for their individual agritourism business than they had for the industry as a whole in the state.

Status of Agri-Tourism Business in Central Luzon, Philippines: Basis for Development Plan

“…Agri-tourism should focus on tourist experience and create a marketing message based on these experiences to appeal to potential travellers' emotions (Hudson & Ritchie, 2009). Yeboah et al (2009) found out that successful case study farmers used a combination of marketing strategies including internet, farmers market, contracts and direct sales to restaurants and grocery stores. Barbieri & Tew (2010) concluded that farms with greater number of visitors received used more marketing techniques such as personal selling strategies, internet, web page and blogs.…”

Análise Bibliométrica Da Literatura Acerca Das Competências E Habilidades Empreendedoras Do Agropecuarista No Contexto Da Diversificação Para O Turismo Rural

“…A diversificação passou a ser uma opção de estratégia para que os negócios rurais que, em sua maioria, estão relacionados à agricultura ou à pecuária, permaneçam viáveis, sobretudo diante dos riscos enfrentados pela agricultura (YEBOAH et al, 2016). Nesse contexto, o turismo rural destaca-se junto aos produtores rurais, que buscam a diversificação para este segmento de negócio, possibilitando a criação de novas oportunidades, possibilidade de maior renda durante o ano todo, de forma a contribuir para o sucesso do negócio (PINTO, 2019).…”

Factors influencing agritourism adoption by small farmers in North Carolina

“…Research among small farmers in North Carolina indicates that profit maximization was not a priority reason for farming and farmers cite a "love of farming" and "desire to keep the family farm in the family" as the primary reason for farming (Yeboah et al, 2009). Given recent economic conditions, small farms that do not operate efficiently can exacerbate loss of farm ownership especially for socially disadvantaged farmers.…”