Washington State Department of Commerce develops plan to support agritourism
Document includes recommendations about definition of agritourism and heads to state legislature for more consideration.
A report released by the Washington State Department of Commerce outlines ways to support farmers who use agritourism to make ends meet.
The 75-page report, which was commissioned by the state legislature in the 2023-2025 budget, helps clarify agritourism definitions while outlining ways to preserve agriculture land.
More than 4,800 farms in Washington participate in direct sales and agritourism and 77 percent of those farms are under 100 acres in size. Most of these farms operate year-round. Half of these small farms earn less than $40,000 per year and more than half of these farms have at least one partner who works another job, according to the report.
“There is no single fix for what farmers are facing, but agritourism could be one way to help them stay afloat – so long as it’s done with care and clear rules to protect the community,” the report states. “To help agritourism venues, farmers need a statewide marketing plan and grants to subsidize and incentivize agritourism activities.”
