Bay City's Downtown Farm Market, 618 6th St. at Washington, opens June 4; it operates Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. AGRITOURISM? Farm Market Visits, Corn Maze, U-Pick Activities in New Field
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Are you ready for another agritourism season?
Keep an eye out for farm markets that will soon be opening. They are an important part of "agritourism" in case you haven't heard.
The Midland Farm Market, opening May 2, located near the Tridge behind the H Hotel, is open Wednesdays and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 12 noon;
Bay City's Downtown Farm Market, 618 6th St. at Washington, opens June 4; it operates Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
Saginaw's farm market, 507 S. Washington Avenue next to the former Saginaw News building is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It begins operations May 22.
Agritourism is a whole new "field" (no pun intended) that has developed recently to promote locally grown food, farm markets and other agriculture pursuits.
Agritourism, is an agriculturally-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
Michigan State University Ag Professor Sara Nichols defines Agritourism: "refers to the act of visiting a working farm or any horticultural or agricultural operation for the purpose of enjoyment, education or active involvement in the activities at the farm or operation that also adds to the economic viability of the site."
Agri-tourism includes a wide variety of activities, including buying produce direct from a farm stand, navigating a corn maze, picking fruit, feeding animals, or staying at a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) on a farm.
Agritourism is widespread in America. Agri-tourists can choose from a wide range of activities that also include picking fruits and vegetables, riding horses, tasting honey, learning about wine and cheese-making, or shopping in farm gift shops and farm stands for local and regional produce or hand-crafted gifts.
Michigan Agritourism includes all forms of farm activities including farm markets, farmers markets, orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, maple syrup producers, creameries, cider mills, petting zoos, free farms, wineries, B&B's, education, and many hands-on activities that the entire family will enjoy.
One farm operation urges: "Please join our members for some good family farm fun. We look forward to seeing you!"
The Michigan Farmers Markets Association (MIFMA) concluded its fifth annual Market Manager Certificate Program, certifying 42 market managers on February 28.
The Market Manager Certificate Program is a voluntary program designed to encourage market managers to pursue leadership skills and professional development in topics essential to market management. As farmers markets grow and expand, totaling more than 300 markets in Michigan in 2014, so do the needs of the individuals who run these markets and create thriving marketplaces for local food and farm products.
"Every year I am inspired by the dedication and commitment market managers put in to the work that they do. The Market Manager Certificate Program is a way that we can provide support and help managers who are looking to grow and improve their markets," said Dru Montri, MIFMA Director.
Certificates were awarded to 32 market managers from Michigan, and 10 from Wisconsin. These market managers join the 103 market managers that were certified between 2011 and 2014 for a total of 145 certified market managers in 2015. MIFMA?s Market Manager Certificate Program is the only program in the nation that recognizes market managers as professionally trained.
Each certified market manager had the opportunity to network with other market managers over the course of the program and focus on topics such as Market Governance, Conflict Management, Financial Record-keeping, Licensing and Regulations and Marketing. A final manager-to-manager education and networking opportunity completed the program focusing on sharing experiences and lessons learned.
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