Arizona farmers welcoming tourists
USA Today
November, 23 2005
PHOENIX (AP)— ome Arizona farmers are finding a way to squeeze a bit more money out of their land — by opening it up to tourists who want to learn how their meals get from the ground to the dinne
Cary Blake, a spokesman for the Arizona Farm Bureau, said "agritourism" is a good niche market for farmers who face increasing competition.
"They're bringing the farm to the city person and the city person learns more about agriculture and where food comes from," Blake said.
The Southwest's largest dairy, Shamrock Farms in Stanfield, launched a tour program this month geared toward children and families. The tour program is a mix of education and marketing with a cow-spotted tram rolling visitors through the cow "spa" and calf nursery before hauling everyone back to a big red barn for milk and ice cream.
The recently opened Queen Creek Olive Mill also hopes to lure visitors — and their spending money — with its gourmet olive products and "press your own olive oil" experience.
After leaving behind a career in auto-parts manufacturing, Perry Rea studied olive farming and olive-oil production in Italy. In 1997, he planted the trees at his farm near the San Tan Mountains.
There, he grows eight different olives, including Kalamata and Manzanillo olives, and produces dipping oils, infused oils and extra virgin olive oil among other products.
Growing olives started as a hobby, but demand for gourmet gifts led him to the idea of giving tours and opening a store.
"People do a lot of 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing' when they come in here, cause they see the olive oil getting made here and they had no idea," Rea said.
Copyright 2005 USA TODAY
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