Last week’s Red Hot Topic talked about the growing trend in agritourism. I’d like to follow up with a second helping on the subject: agritourism in the Garden State.
As the agency for Greener New Jersey Productions and New Jersey Travel & Tourism, Dana is really digging into the agritourism movement. And it starts in our own backyard. Literally. For the past three years, we have offered up 6,000 square feet of Dana property to our neighbor, Nomad Pizza, for an organic garden. It’s a win-win for everyone. Nomad gets just-picked ingredients for addictive wood-fired brick oven pizzas. The Dana team gets a beautiful spot to stop and smell…the basil.
We’re proud of our work promoting “the greener side” of New Jersey with Greener New Jersey Productions. In addition to logo design and marketing guidance, Dana supports Fresh!, a series in development on farms, farmers and farmers markets in the Garden State. Watch the Fresh! pilot and see what being an “agritourist” is all about.
For New Jersey Travel & Tourism, we’re working on market segmenting that includes an epicurean target. Our goal is to promote New Jersey as a world leader in agritourism, offering visitors the opportunity to tour wineries, dine sustainably, “pick your own” fruit and vegetables, meet the farmer and learn how to cook with Jersey Fresh® ingredients.
As Dana gets more involved in agritourism, I’ll be continuing my own personal research. In nearby Princeton, Agricola is described as a “community eatery” where locally sourced ingredients are celebrated in every dish, even in the cocktails. I have been know to enjoy a martini, and I will have to try Agricola’s Great “Dirt” Road Farm Martini, made with crop organic vodka, brine and pickled vegetables from the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Great Road Farm. One of my favorite communal hangouts is the Stockton Farmers Market, where I stop on Saturdays for organic eggs, heirloom wheat bread, artisanal chocolates and chats with vendors and neighbors. And I am eagerly awaiting the opening of Brick Farm Market here in Hopewell, which will offer produce, a cheese maker, a bakery and a butcher. (Read: bacon!)
Not only is agritourism a whole lot of fun, but it’s good for us, too. I can really sink my teeth into a travel trend like that.
