Sowing Seeds of Adventure

The rise of agritourism in Sussex County

BY TINA COLEMAN

AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM are Sussex County’s two leading economic powerhouses. It makes sense that in combination they present massive opportunities for farmers to share their experience and lifestyle with visitors—and for visitors to learn, enjoy, and experience farm adventures. Agricultural tourism, or agritourism, is becoming progressively more popular. As people clamor to know more about where their food comes from and how it’s produced, they become increasingly aware of active, healthy lifestyles and interested in the benefits of sustainable tourism.

Sussex County producers who want to provide visitors with agritourism experiences have a huge leg up over producers in landlocked and often geographically isolated locations throughout the U.S. This is because Southern Delaware is already an immensely desirable tourist destination. Visitors to the area—many from metro areas with few or no farms—are more than happy to add farm experiences to their Southern Delaware itineraries.

The term agritourism includes a variety of activities, including things like staying at a bed and breakfast on a farm; buying produce direct from a farm stand or farm store; viewing or feeding animals; picking fruit; navigating a corn maze; spending a morning enjoying goat yoga or alpaca yoga; or taking part in a farm tour, to name just a few. Agritourism takes place at authentic farms, gardens, and educational sites that present activities where visitors can learn more about agriculture, take part in an event, or purchase items grown on the farm.

There are already lots of creative and thriving agritourism attractions and experiences available in Southern Delaware, including vineyards, lavender farms, apiaries, organic herb and vegetable farms, animal farms, flower farms, orchards, outstanding plant nurseries, and more. And don’t forget our local shellfish farmers! Here are just a few examples:

• Restaurants that serve in-season farm-to-table dinners.

• Companies and aquaculture farmers who offer tours of oyster farms.

• A variety of farm festivals are held throughout the area.

• Three local vineyards/wineries—Salted Vines, Twin Branch, and Nassau Valley Vineyards (Delaware’s first farm winery) offer visitors tours, tastings, and live entertainment. Nassau Valley Vineyards also hosts a fabulous farmers’ market (May through mid-October).

• Local producers like Magee Farms, Bennett Orchards, Story Hill Farms, and T.S. Smith allow people to pick their own produce or flowers.

• Sussex County has a host of local weekly in-season farmers markets, including the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, a nonprofit, communitybased, producer-only, farmers market in operation since 2006.

• Plant and flower producers like Lavender Fields in Milton, Brittingham Farms, Jeff’s Greenhouses in Bethel, and others are popular destinations for visitors. Many producers also offer food and/or bath and body products created from the bounty of their gardens.

• A variety of popular farm tours are offered by Delmarva Discovery Tours as well as by individual farms. Some farms offer workshops in natural crafts or fabric dyeing, while others offer goat and alpaca yoga.

• There are even occasional opportunities for volunteers to assist with grape and lavender harvests.

• Who can pass up an ice cream stop at Hopkins Farm Creamery in Lewes or Vanderwende’s in Bridgeville, or a chance to enjoy the petting zoo at T.S. Smith?

Agritourism in Southern Delaware is growing in popularity among visitors, producers, and communities in recent years and the trend is escalating. Not only does it provide farmers the opportunity to diversify and generate additional income, but it allows them to market directly to consumers. Moreover, it helps preserve the rural lifestyles and character that set Sussex County apart as a unique destination.

Equally, agritourism offers visitors an important perspective on the importance of supporting farmers, farms, and farming communities. It tremendously adds to the richness and variety of experiences available to our visitors, contributing to more frequent visits and longer stays. Agritourism is a win for both farmers and visitors.

Tina Coleman is communications manager at Southern Delaware Tourism.