Fully understanding the potential of agritourism in the Midwest and the country as a whole is hampered by two factors: the lack of an official definition of agritourism and the limited amount of economic data available.
Agritourism businesses in the Midwest come in many forms, everything from pick-your-own berry fields to animal barns.
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Customer Connie Farmer, left, waits for her berries as Renee Seba rings up her purchase at Mule Barn Berries.
Credit Camille Phillips / Harvest Public Media
Raasch advertised the opening of Carolyn's Country Cousins in 1991 by leaving flyers on minivans in the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart.
Credit Camille Phillips / Harvest Public Media
Melanie Gieringer picks an English cucumber in a hoop house next to the orchard.
Credit Camille Phillips / Harvest Public Media
Co-owner Carolyn Raasch, right, helps her granddaughter Adalyn Raasch feed the goats at th
Credit Camille Phillips / Harvest Public Media
Maintaining the authentic feel of farm life at Carolyn's Country Cousins is important to Buddy and Carolyn Raasch.
Credit Camille Phillips / Harvest Public Media
Renee and Charlie Seba, the owners of Mule Barn Berries, are experimenting with two rows of raspberries, which have turned out to be customer favorites.
Credit Camille Phillips / Harvest Public Media
At Geiringer's Orchard in Edgerton, Kan., Frank Gieringer planted sweet corn next to his peach orchard to help meet customer demand for "what else have you got?"
Picking fruit, tasting wine, petting a goat, roping a cow. When customers pay for the honor of taking on such farm chores ... or delights … it’s called “agritourism.”
Agriculture and tourism are two of Missouri's biggest industries. But when the two activities meet -- think wine tastings or hay rides -- legal complexities ensue. On this week's Health & Wealth update, farmers in Missouri want the legislature to pass a law clarifying who is liable if someone gets hurt in the corn maze.
