UB Regional Institute Presents Recommendations for Agritourism Development in the Southtowns

The UB Regional Institute presented the final report on "Sowing the Seeds for Southtowns Agribusiness" at a community forum in the Town of Eden on March 5, 2009. The effort, based on a partnership between the institute and the Southtowns Community Enhancement Coalition, included a survey of 45 farms in the towns of Brant, Eden, Evans and North Collins to assess existing agritourism resources, evaluate farm tourism capacity and offer strategic recommendations for advancing agritourism in the largely rural area of Erie County.

Among the report's key recommendations are developing a Southtowns farm trail, leveraging the "buy local" movement, developing farm-based recreation and investing in visitor-readiness elements, such as signage, capital improvements and marketing. Next steps include establishing an agritourism steering committee and securing funding to link farms to key resources to advance their plans, including technical assistance, business planning guidance and product development and marketing partnerships.