Issue Paper 9: Agritourism as an Economic Infuser and Equalizer

Issue Paper 9: Agritourism as an Economic Infuser and Equalizer 

Indiana’s House District 3 is both a food desert and a burgeoning scene for urban agriculture. 

(Remus Farms Fall Harvest in Hobart, Indiana.)

With the loss of Lake Station’s Central Market, Jansen’s Fruit Market, along with the wide range of limited food options across Gary, our nutritional situation can seem bleak. 

(Volunteers plant the beginnings of an orchard in Gary's Emerson Community.)

However, there is some light here too. We have INHD3 anchors like Remus Farms and Johnson’s, as well as emerging groups like Gary’s Emerson Spotlight’s FAITH Farms initiative and the recently planted orchard in Emerson.

There's an #orchard going in #Emerson. It's taken almost 3 years from when we wrote the first draft of the #grant to the implementation of this #CommunityGoal but we're making it happen. #WeAreDistrict3 and we're here to work. 💪🍒🍐🍏 #CommunityOverCompetition #FocusOnOurFuture #INDistrict3

A post shared by Renslow4Rep (@renslow4rep) on Nov 10, 2017 at 8:54am PST

 

Marketing our area as a tourism destination is paramount to Indiana House District 3's economic development. Agritourism is a unique opportunity for INHD3 to capitalize on a combined blending of both the tourism and agriculture spheres to bring financial, educational and social benefits to our community. It will enhance the tourism industry by increasing the volume of visitors to our area and the length of their stay, while also infusing our House District with locally grown food sources.  

(Volunteers plant an orchard in Gary's Emerson Community with artist, Francis Whitehead.)

Agritourism grants farmers an opportunity to create extra revenue streams and a way for direct marketing to consumers. It also leads to a higher quality of product, which helps bridge the food desert divide. 

(The Renslow4Rep crew supporting one of Gary's Pop-up markets.)

(Shannon Farm Homestead is part of the effort to get Farmers Markets to urban communities.)

Agritourism can provide Hoosiers communities like ours the potential to expand their tax base and new job opportunities.  Additionally, agritourism provides educational opportunities to the public, helps to preserve agricultural lands, and allows House Districts to develop micro and macro enterprises. 

Checking out #INHD3's newest coffee shop. #CultivatedCulture on Lake Street in Gary, Indiana. ☕️✔️💕 #WeAreDistrict3 #CommunityOverCompetition #BuyLocal

A post shared by Renslow4Rep (@renslow4rep) on Dec 31, 2017 at 12:20pm PST

(The Cultivated Culture Cafe features locally sourced goods from INHD3 farmers on their menu. )

Agritourism can include:

• U-Pick operations

• hay rides
•on-farm farmers’ markets

• corn mazes
•demonstration farms
•cut-your-own Christmas tree farms
•living history farms

• pumpkin picking patches

• agricultural museums
•winery tours and wine tasting

• dude ranches
•garden tours

• bed & breakfasts

Tourisms will raise our quality of life, beautify our blighted areas, build up our transportation networks, all while raising Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart’s profile on the national/international level. 

(Jessica Renslow helping plant the orchard in Emerson last November. Jessie helped Francis Whitehead write the original version of the grant for the orchard's seed funding.)

If elected, Jessica Renslow will fight to:

• Create and implement an INHD3 tourism strategic plan and marketing campaign that will give our area presence on the national/international level.

• Cultivate better communication between our rural and urban farmers so that they can advocate for Indiana House District’s nutritional needs on the local and state levels. 

• Pursue local businesses to start prioritizing active and passive tourism in all seasons as an economic driver.

• Advocate for business investment in INHD3 that is complementary to promoting life-long communities. 

• Foster sponsorship relationships between area businesses and industries to help infuse tourism initiatives, support active transportation, improve infrastructure and protect our environment, so that the burden of funding is not on INHD3 residents.

• Encourage local eateries and food venders to build relationships with local farmers to promote “farm to fork” products.

• Increase jobs and economic development by monitoring/ maintaining compliance of our local and targeted hiring programs. 

• Ensure that INHD3 tourism revenues and benefits stay in Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart.

(The regionally famous Marilyn's Bakery at Johnson's Farm in Hobart sells a wide range of products.)