State Senator Ed Kennedy testified before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development on Monday, advocating for Senate Bill.2469, An Act Defining Agritourism. Senator Kennedy is the chief sponsor of the legislation and he also sits on the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. In general terms, agritourism is tourism that involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm. Senate Bill 2469 would establish a clear definition of agritourism activities.
As of the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, there were 240 farms participating in agritourism activities in the Commonwealth which generated $13,476,000 in income, or $56,150 per farm, which makes Massachusetts the eighth highest state in the U.S. for agritourism value per farm.
Many Massachusetts farmers have become increasingly creative about making their farms attractive to tourists by adding farm stands, offering bus tours, a farm-to-table venue for weddings, corn mazes, bed and breakfasts, picnic tables, and other recreational activities.
Agritourism is crucial for the success of many small farms. With modern agriculture putting a strain on farms, and the urban and suburban populations becoming increasingly distant from them, agritourism serves as a means for farmers to increase their revenue. It also helps farmers reconnect with the general public and educates them about the process of producing their food and other farm products. By defining agritourism in state law, future legislation can be proposed to support the farming industry in Massachusetts.