In an effort to cultivate the partnership with the U.S. while enhancing its own organization, Farm Fresh Ontario (FFO) recently sent several dozen Canadians to Gainesville to learn about North Georgia’s agritourism efforts.
“It is exciting to see many Ontario agritourism farm owners traveling to Georgia to collaboratively build strong relationships and exchange ideas with our American partners,” said Rob Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Thank you to the farmers hosting them in the great state of Georgia. This visit is another example of Ontario’s strong relationship with the U.S., and a powerful opportunity for agritourism operators on both sides of the border to cooperate in strengthening their businesses.”
Based in Ontario, FFO is a not-for-profit, educational and promotional organization focused on supporting local food systems, i.e. Ontario farmers. Since being founded in 1973, FFO has advocated for Ontario farm products to improve profitability, all by promoting direct farm sales, thus advancing farm businesses; family fun, thus teaching kids about the source of their food; and serving as a voice of agritourism in Ontario, thus growing Ontario’s diversified agricultural sector.
“Its general membership is made up of dedicated Ontario farmers with a keen interest in promoting the direct farm sales industry (which includes on-farm markets and pick-your-own operations), and encouraging improvements and maintaining integrity in the industry,” says FFO’s official website, farmfreshontario.com.
Welcoming FFO were the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB/Explore Gainesville) and Georgia Grown, a division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) tasked with growing local agribusinesses.
“Our team at Georgia Grown was pleased to welcome a group of 30 farmers from Farm Fresh Ontario to Hall County to learn first-hand about the challenges and opportunities of the agritourism industry here in Georgia,” said GDA Agritourism Manager and Membership Coordinator Cheryl Smith. “Hall County is home to some of our state’s top agritourism destinations, and we were proud to showcase our state’s No. 1 industry to Canadian producers. The Gainesville CVB did a great job on the itinerary and hosting the tour.”
Over the course of two days, FFO representatives spent the majority of their time taking in the North Georgia landscape – home to many family-owned farms, orchards and dairy operations. The group toured Jaemor Farms (Alto), Hopewell Farms (Gainesville), Buford Corn Maze (Buford) and Sweet Acre Farms Winery (Alto). Also Glo-Crest Dairy Farm and Mountain Fresh Creamery (Clermont), Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm (Jefferson), Merk Farms (Commerce) and Skitts Mountain Farms (Cleveland).
In-depth discussions with farm owners shed light on the growth of agritourism attractions, regenerative farming practices and how they fit with agritourism opportunities, extending agritourism experiences into the holidays, turning existing farms and wineries into event venues, and even a new tour app responsible for enhancing agritourism in the region.