Agriculture remains a key economic driver for the state of Maryland, but like all successful businesses, agriculture has had to change with the times. Agritourism now plays an increasingly important role in the long-term profitability of agriculture, especially for small- to mid-size farms. However, while most counties have attempted to embrace agritourism, its diverse and sometimes vague nature poses a variety of regulatory challenges – from zoning and building code requirements to health and sanitation issues. Even properly promoting agritourism activities can be a challenge. This symposium will identify the regulatory challenges posed by agritourism and seek to provide potential solutions to those challenges through a collaborative exchange with key stakeholders.
Session Topics
- Identifying Agritourism Challenges
- County Perspectives on Agritourism
- Forum Discussions (covering land use and zoning, health and sanitation, building code compliance, advertising and promotion)