Burlington--Registration is now open for the 2022 International Workshop on Agritourism, which will take place August 30-September 1 in Vermont.
University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and Eurac Research, a private research center in Italy, are co-sponsoring the conference, which is designed as a hybrid event with options for in-person and virtual attendance. It will feature more than 150 presentations and interactive workshops by U.S. and international speakers; a farm-to-table dinner, a poster session and field trips to farms and other agricultural enterprises.
Headquarters for the conference is the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain Hotel in downtown Burlington. Early registration is recommended to receive early-bird discounts (available until April 30) and first choice of on-farm workshops and pre- and post-conference tours. For program details, scholarship information and the link for registration, go to www.agritourismworkshop.com.
The conference will provide an opportunity for agricultural producers, researchers, academics and agritourism and tourism industry professionals from around the world to share information and learn about a wide range of agritourism topics. It also will showcase agritourism endeavors in Vermont through farm tours to Shelburne Farms, Green Mountain Girls Farm, Snow Farm Winery and Vineyard and the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, among others.
Sessions will focus on the logistics of operating an agritourism business, marketing and brand building, strategies to build customer loyalty, sustainable tourism, developing regional partnerships and culinary tourism, among a host of other topics. Presenters also will share research and case studies from their countries.
Pre- and post-conference full-day tours will focus on one of several themes, such as regenerative agritourism, food justice, wild foods and agricultural products and include visits to Vermont farms, vineyards, cideries and other venues.
"Vermont's farmers have worked extremely hard to provide a world-class experience for our visitors," said Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets. "When you visit Vermont you have the opportunity to taste fresh food from the farm right to your table while enjoying the beauty of Vermont's working landscape. We thank those who have developed this growing and exciting agritourism sector and look forward to hosting and sharing the Green Mountain State with industry leaders around the world."
For more information or if interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, contact Lisa Chase at (802) 257-7967, ext. 311, or lisa.chase@uvm.edu. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Delaney Meeting and Event Management at (802) 865-5202 by July 1.