RALEIGH - Anyone interested in starting their own agritourism business or interested in learning more about the state's growing agritourism industry should mark their calendars for three upcoming workshops.
The following workshops will be held from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.:
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March 29, Greenlife Grocery Community Community Center, Asheville. Call or e-mail Marilyn Cade at (828) 675-4856 or marilyn@mountainfarm.com to register.
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April 3, Gastonia County Resource Center, Gastonia. Call or email Cathy Lewis at (704) 842-1208 or lewi1408@bellsouth.net to register.
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April 19, Forsyth County Cooperative Extension Office. Call Paul Marshall at (336) 727-5284 or paul_marshall@triad.rr.com to register.
The program for each workshop will cover such topics as defining agritourism opportunities of a farm, hospitality hints and marketing tips, liability issues, agritourism success stories and an Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund update. The program also offers farmers and others a chance to network and learn from one another.
Registration is $10 and includes dinner. For more information or to register for any of the above workshops, contact Martha Glass, manager of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agritourism Office, at (919) 733-7887 or e-mail at martha.glass@ncagr.gov. Registrations may be accepted by phone until the day before each workshop as space allows.
Agritourism refers to value-added agricultural activities that provide recreational and entertaining experiences to educate people about North Carolina agriculture. For example, some farms offer hayrides, barnyard animal exhibits, pond fishing, pick-your-own opportunities, bed-and-breakfast room rentals, vineyards and unique meeting spaces for business retreats or special events.
For more information about the workshops or the agritourism industry, go to www.ncagr.com/agritourism/.
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