Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sustaining production and strengthening the agritourism product: Linkages among Michigan agritourism destinations

  • Published:
Agriculture and Human Values Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Agricultural restructuring has disproportionately impacted smaller US farms, such as those in Michigan where the average farm size is 215 acres. To keep agricultural land in production, entrepreneurial Michigan farmers are utilizing agritourism as a value-added way to capitalize on their comparative advantages, their diverse agricultural products, and their locations near large, urban, tourist-generating areas. Using focus groups, this paper illustrates how entrepreneurial farmers have strengthened Michigan agritourism by fostering producer networks through brochures and web linkages, information sharing in refining the agritourism product, referrals to other agritourism businesses that serve different markets or offer different products, purchase linkages, and a regional approach to establishing agritourism destinations and increase visitation. Successful entrepreneurial, agritourism developers thus work cooperatively, rather than individualistically and competitively. Agritourism destinations facing stiff competition from alternative venues for leisure time and food purchases benefit from supportive linkages that help sustain a critical mass of producers who offer diverse goods, maintain land in agriculture, and thus, reinforce Michigan’s image for agritourism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ATPA:

Andean Trade Preference Act

MDA:

Michigan Department of Agriculture.

References

  • A. M. Brandeburger B. J. Nalebuff (1996) Co-Opetition Doubleday New York

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Brunori A. Rossi (2000) ArticleTitle“Synergy and coherence through collective action: Some insights from wine routes in Tuscany” Sociologia Ruralis 40 IssueID4 409–23 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9523.00157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G. Busby S. Rendle (2000) ArticleTitle“The transition from tourism on farms to farm tourism” Tourism Management 21 635–42 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0261-5177(00)00011-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. D. Cartwright R. Oliver (2000) ArticleTitle“Untangling the value web” Journal of Business Strategy 21 22–28

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Clarke (1996) ArticleTitle“Farm accommodation and the communication mix” Tourism Management 17 IssueID8 611–20 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0261-5177(97)84224-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Clarke (1999) ArticleTitle“Marketing structures for farm tourism: Beyond the individual provider of rural tourism” Journal of Sustainable Tourism 7 IssueID1 26–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Cross, P. (1987). Agriculture and Tourism: A Focus on Vacation Farms in Wisconsin. MS thesis. University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin.

  • E. Finnerty (2001) ArticleTitle“Region’s apple farms struggle to keep open; Crop disease, droughts, and early frosts close some southwestern Michigan apple farms” Kalamazoo Gazette October 15 IssueID2001 A1–A2

    Google Scholar 

  • J. M. Frater (1983) ArticleTitle“Farm tourism in England: Planning, funding, promotion and some lessons from Europe” Tourism Management 4 167–79 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0261-5177(83)90061-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, R. (1995). Agritourism, As a New Approach to Economic, Environmental and Social Rehabilitation of Rural Areas: A Wisconsin Case Study. MS thesis. University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin.

  • M. Halme Z. Fadeeva (2000) ArticleTitle“Small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in sustainable development networks” Greener Management International: The Journal of Corporate Environmental Strategy and Practice 30 97–113

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Hill (1998) ArticleTitle“Sleeping with the enemy” Ivey Business Quarterly 63 IssueID2 17–18

    Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Hjalager (1996) ArticleTitle“Agricultural diversification into tourism: Evidence of a European Community development programme” Tourism Management 17 IssueID2 103–11 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0261-5177(95)00113-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K. B. Hoffman E. Finnerty (2001) ArticleTitle“Farmers say they’re losing money even with government aid” Kalamazoo Gazette October 16 IssueID2001 B1–B2

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Holmlund M. Fulton (1999) Networking for Success: Strategic Alliances in the New Agriculture Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, K., E. Kuenzi, J. Palmquist, and R. Wollersheim (1987). “Commonalities, Potentialities, and Realities.” In Agriculture and Tourism in Wisconsin: Report on the First Ag-Tourism Conference(pp. 9–10). Madison, WI: Recreation Resources Center, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-UW-Extension, Small Business Development Center.

  • M. Kenney L. M. Lobao J. Curry W. R. Goe (1989) ArticleTitle“Midwestern agriculture in U.S. Fordism: From the New Deal to economic restructuring” Sociologia Ruralis 29 IssueID2 131–148

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Kraus (1999) A Time to Remember: A History of the Jewish Community in South Haven The Priscilla Press Allegan Forest, Michigan

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Lane K. Yoshinaga (1994) ArticleTitle“Niche markets for the rural world” The OECD Observer 190 14–18

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Lazarus (1998) ArticleTitle“Harvesting the city slickers: B.C. farmers go beyond word of mouth in promoting agritourism” Marketing Magazine 103 12

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobo, R. (2001). “Helpful agricultural tourism (agritourism) definitions.” Accessed on January 25, 2001 at www.sfc. ucdavis.edu/agritourism/definition.html.

  • Maetzold, J. A. (2002). “Nature-based Tourism and agritourism trends: Unlimited opportunities.” Accessed on August 26, 2004 at www.kerrcenter.com/publications/2002_proceedings/ agritourism.pdf.

  • McCall, A. (2002). “Michigan turns its agriculture into family fun, targets tourists.” Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News October 12, 2002: pITEM02285102.

  • Michigan Department of Agriculture (2002). “New markets.” Accessed on February 14, 2003 at www.michigan. gov0,1687,7-125–14963–,00.html.

  • Michigan Department of Agriculture (2003). “Why Select Michigan?” Accessed on February 26, 2003 at www.michigan. gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1570_6402-12811–,00.html.

  • Moses, A. R. (1999a). “Life on the farm becoming a tough sell; uncertain weather, low profits make farming a stressful occupation.” Detroit News November 26, 1999: C8.

  • Moses, A. R. (1999b). “Sprawl is mixed bag for farmers; some fear there soon won’t be farmland left, others sell for big profit.” The Detroit News February 26, 1999: 8C.

  • National Honey Board (2003). “Pounds imported.” Accessed on June 2, 2003 at www.nhb.org/intl/4Country/img002.gif.

  • M. Oppermann (1995) ArticleTitle“Holidays on the farm: A case study of German hosts and guests” Journal of Travel Research 34 IssueID1 63–67

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Parker (2001) ArticleTitle“Glut spears local growers; Peruvian greens, an offshoot of drug war, driving down asparagus prices” Kalamazoo Gazette May 11 IssueID2001 A1–A2

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Sivadas F. R. Dwyer (2000) ArticleTitle“An examination of organizational factors influencing new product success in internal and alliance-based processes” Journal of Marketing 64 IssueID1 31–49 Occurrence Handle10.1509/jmkg.64.1.31.17985

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Tagliabue (1998) ArticleTitle“Preserving a heritage via bed and barns; European governments subsidize agritourism” New York Times August 13 IssueID1998 D1

    Google Scholar 

  • D. J. Telfer (2001) ArticleTitle“Strategic alliances along the Niagara Wine Route” Tourism Management 22 21–30 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0261-5177(00)00033-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. General Accounting Office (2001). Impacts of the Andean Trade Preference Act on Asparagus Producers and Consumers. GAO-01-315 Agricultural Trade. Washington, DC: U.S. General Accounting Office.

  • D. Weaver C. Glenn R. Rounds (1996) ArticleTitle“Private ecotourism operations in Manitoba, Canada” Journal of Sustainable Tourism 4 IssueID3 135–46

    Google Scholar 

  • O. Wilson (1995) ArticleTitle“Rural restructuring and agriculture – rural economy linkages: A New Zealand study” Journal of Rural Studies 11 IssueID4 417–31 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0743-0167(95)00014-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA

    Deborah Che & Gregory Veeck

  2. Department of Marketing, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

    Ann Veeck

Authors
  1. Deborah Che
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ann Veeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gregory Veeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah Che.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Che, D., Veeck, A. & Veeck, G. Sustaining production and strengthening the agritourism product: Linkages among Michigan agritourism destinations. Agric Hum Values 22, 225–234 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-004-8282-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-004-8282-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation