Agritourism | Food Systems

This briefing paper published by the University of California Agricultural Issues Center examines local regulatory obstacles facing California farmers and ranchers interested in developing agritourism operations. Based on interviews from farmers and ranchers in 10 counties, the study looks at regulatory roadblocks impeding the development of agritourism enterprises; what new or revised policies, if any, are being adopted by counties to facilitate the development of agritourism enterprises in their counties; what changes to the regulatory system are desired by agritourism operators; and what discrepancies exist between county officials’ knowledge about the agritourism permitting process, requirements, and costs and on-the-ground experiences of agritourism operators.