The 2022 Agri -Tourism Guide, produced by Support Local Agriculture, has been released for the 2022 season, and can be found at thirty-six participating locations, and at supportlocagriculture.com. This guide serves as a map to farm stands and markets across Berrien County, where visitors and locals can find the best produce, eggs, flowers, and meats that Southwest Michigan has to offer.
Support Local Agriculture is now in its thirteenth year, and has a mission statement that perfectly illustrates what our region strives to represent: ‘Promoting Agri-Tourism in Southwest Michigan through art, education, and food. We invite you to enjoy the beauty and bounty of this corner of the world.’
“With this Agri-Tourism Guide, we hope to promote local agricultural products and services within our community and beyond. With our variety of microclimates which support an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and livestock, we believe agriculture in Southwest Michigan is an asset to value, protect, and enjoy,” says the SLA.
This organization, founded by Judy Kite Gosh and co-founded by Paula Bartholome, Janet Schuller, Judy Burnison, and Judy Truesdell, began as a nonprofit operating a fundraiser to assist in the making of the 2009 WNIT documentary “Farm Fresh To You”. The group hosted farm-to-table dinners with local celebrity chefs from Berrien County restaurants such as Bentwood in New Buffalo, Retro Cafe in New Buffalo, and Tabor Hill Restaurant in Buchanan.
The goal of the Agri-Tourism Guide is simple:
*To ensure that local produce and other agricultural products are available to individuals and organizations now, and in the future.
* To facilitate access to local agricultural products by enhancing collaborative efforts between farmers and other public and private resources at the local, state, and federal levels.
* To enhance demand for local agricultural products through consumer education.
Though Support Local Agriculture as a nonprofit was dissolved years ago, Greta Hurst, the original recording secretary and last board member of the group single-handedly produced the guide for the past ten years. Today, the momentum and drive of Southwest Michigan keeps its purpose alive, as it is now self-funded through subscribers and advertisers. Current coordinator and producer of the guide, Steve Salisbury, is excited to promote the 36 advertisers listed in the 2022 guide, with more already inquiring for next year. “Our guide has become highly sought after,” Steve says. ‘Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, vacation rentals, tasting rooms, and food shops all want this guide for their customers. In 2021, we distributed over 4500 guides, and in 2022 we are on track to approach 6000 in distribution.”
The list of locations where you can find a physical copy of the 2022 Agri-Tourism Guide is on the SLA website, supportlocalagriculture.com.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
