Agritourism: A growing business By Jessica Zimmer

North Bay farms and ranches are finding agritourism is a viable way to generate profits that will offset the rising cost of insurance, fuel, feed and labor.

As more ag businesses open their gates, individuals and non-ag businesses are learning the processes behind production and how agriculture benefits the natural environment. Agritourism is also helping farms and ranches conserve habitats for native species.

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Gold Ridge Organic Farms (GROF) in Sebastopol, an organic olive, apple and citrus farm, showcases its award-winning olive oils and modern Rapanelli olive press to attract some of its guests.

GROF hosts custom crushing services with the press, as well as three levels of olive oil tastings, from introductory to immersive. It also holds cheese and heirloom apple pairings, farm tours, educational seminars on growing olives and apples and special seasonal events like the farm’s annual Heirloom Apple Celebration in mid-September.

“During our events we offer wood-fired pizzas, apple turnovers, ice cream with apple cider syrup, shrubs and more, all highlighting our own fresh, farm-to-table in season apples, citrus and (other) local produce,” says Brooke Hazen, owner of Gold Ridge Organic Farms.This summer, GROF will start construction of an event center that will become a larger venue for public and private events and tastings.

“We also just finished planting an apple U-Pick area for families and kids to learn, tour and harvest. We are in the midst of starting our first subscription fruit program,” says Hazen.