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Local farmers push niche markets and agri‑tourism to boost incomes
Summary
Roundtable participants urged inventorying local assets, collaborating on agri‑tourism and steady contracts (one farm cited a Hatfield contract) as pathways to stabilize farm income; speakers noted agri‑tourism and niche products can outpace traditional commodity margins.
Attendees at the Steuben County roundtable highlighted niche marketing and agri‑tourism as key strategies for farms facing input-cost pressure. Panelists encouraged farms to identify local assets, partner on late‑season and specialty product offerings, and pursue stable processor contracts; one attendee described a farm that supplies late‑season apples to food banks and small seasonal restaurants, and another cited a steady monthly revenue stream from a contract with Hatfield.
Speakers said agri‑tourism and specialty retail often produce higher margins than commodity production and can help smooth seasonal income, though they noted farm‑to‑table and commercial-scale agritourism have operational limits. The group recommended county promotion of agri‑tourism and technical assistance through extension to help farms develop market-ready offerings.
