Pennsylvania Agritourism Law Offers New Protections
The regulatory environment for agritourism in Pennsylvania will likely improve significantly with the Pennsylvania Agritourism Activity Protection Act, which became effective on Aug. 29, 2021.
This is a significant development as liability issues and the associated costs and availability of insurance are a major concern for agritourism operators in Pennsylvania, say Penn State experts Claudia Schmidt, Christi Powell, Jackie Schweichler and Brook Duer.
The Farmers Market Manager Forum will hold its first meeting of 2022 on January 26 at 3pm.
Make sure you register so you can receive the Zoom link!
Click HERE to register.
The Farmers Market Manager Forum is a meeting in which managers can discuss issues and share best practices with one another for improving their markets.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions and to participate in open discussion
This forum is held on the last Wednesday of every month.
Support for this program comes from the Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant from the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA.
SAVE THE DATE
Farmers Market Manager Conference March 21-25
Thank you! To everyone who filled out the survey and shared their ideas, thoughts, and preferences for the 2022 conference.
We will again be virtual this year hosting a daily program on zoom from March 21 to 25 each day from 9:00am till 10:30am.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO COME
Support for this program comes from the Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant from the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA.
Under the Ground Helps Businesses Grow From Customer Feedback
Penn State Extension is opening its 2022 Under the Ground program available to food and beverage businesses throughout the Commonwealth. The program provides businesses with valuable qualitative customer feedback, peer networking, and immersive educational experiences. Together, these tools complement a business’s sales data to reveal a comprehensive strategy for improvements and success.
Food and beverage retail spaces dot communities across Pennsylvania. They enliven our Main Streets, provide entertainment, and generate jobs and income for local families. Many of these small businesses run on limited staff, making it more important than ever to maximize profit through customer satisfaction. Under the Ground seeks to help these businesses see their blind spots, better serve their customers, and learn from their peers.
Pandemic driving consumers to pay more for agritourism
The owner of an agritourism giant says owners aren’t charging enough for their products and experiences.
Hugh McPherson runs Maize Quest Fun Park at Maple Lawn Farms based in Pennsylvania, a business that has expanded to 80 locations in the US, UK and Canada. He tells Brownfield many agritourism owners underestimate the value of the family experiences they offer.
“We are creating some pretty magical moments. I think it is our farm background where we ourselves have to be so thrifty and frugal that we feel like we can’t charge as much as we should.”
McPherson says the pandemic has given consumers a new perspective and now more than ever they are willing to pay for fun.
The Pennsylvania Farm Markets, Attractions, and Experience Finder is an interactive map that shows Retail Farm Markets, Farmers Markets, Public Markets, and Agritourism sites across the Commonwealth.
To add your market to the map or to update your market information click here and fill out the Google Form and we will add your information to the map in the next update.
