New Agritourism Program Helps New York Farms Grow

By Blake Jackson

New York agritourism businesses and farm operators have a new opportunity to strengthen their operations through the Continuous Open New York Agritourism Curriculum, a professional development program created to help farms build profitable, sustainable, and visitor-focused agritourism enterprises.

Designed for both new and established agritourism operators, the program offers flexible learning options to accommodate different schedules. Participants can choose an asynchronous online format, which provides one year of access to course materials, or attend live virtual sessions scheduled for January 22, 2027, February 5, 2027, and February 19, 2027, from noon to 1 p.m. The registration fee is $100.

The curriculum combines expert instruction with practical exercises that can be applied directly to farm businesses. Topics include agritourism operations in New York, industry challenges and opportunities, risk management, customer service, workforce considerations, marketing strategies, and collaboration with tourism and commodity organizations.

Participants will also benefit from networking opportunities with agritourism operators across the state, allowing them to exchange ideas and learn from shared experiences.

As part of the program, attendees will develop useful business-planning tools for the 2027 season, including a SWOT analysis, evaluation of potential agritourism opportunities, employee training materials, and customized marketing plans.

The curriculum also helps participants build connections with regional tourism organizations and agricultural groups that support agritourism growth throughout New York.

Whether a farm is launching its first agritourism venture or expanding an existing attraction, the program aims to provide the knowledge, resources, and industry connections needed for long-term success.

Registration is currently open, and interested participants can contact Lindsey Pashow at lep67@cornell.edu for additional information.

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