Local Sustainable Agriculture and Agritourism in the Thousand Islands Region

Kristen Balschunat

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INTRODUCTION

The Thousand Islands region, on the border of New York and Canada, is well

known for fishing, sailing and beautiful castles. Residents enjoy the natural beauty of the

area and value the opportunity to get in touch with nature and escape the hectic lifestyle

of the city. Visitors enjoy the rural landscapes, preserved natural areas, and rich cultural

history. Tourism is the backbone of the economy, but one area of tourism with untapped

potential in the Thousand Islands is agritourism.

Driving through the Thousand Islands, one sees derelict barns and abandoned

farmsteads: relics of the early dairy-based economy of the area. Recent changes in dairy

policies have made it difficult for wholesale dairy farmers to prosper, but the difficult

land lends itself to another form of agriculture: local sustainable agriculture. Some factors

that make local sustainable agriculture appropriate in the Thousand Islands are the harsh

nature of the environment (particularly low soil quality), which produces cheap and

available land; an open and growing market for organic and naturally grown products;

and a seasonal tourist population with disposable income that could be spent spend on

local food. This paper defines the term local sustainable agriculture, explores factors

facilitating the success of local sustainable agriculture in the area, review initiatives

already being taken, and proposes actions that could be taken to foster the growth of local

sustainable agriculture.

DEFINITIONS

Defining the term “local sustainable agriculture” is challenging. Some

organizations propose that “local” is a purely geographic term, while others argue that

“local” connotes the values and ethics of the grower. In 2007, “locavore” was selected as

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the Word of the Year by Oxford American Dictionary. It was defined simply as, “food

grown within 100 miles of its point of purchase or consumption,” implying that

geographic proximity is the only factor that determines the “locality” food (Peters, 2009).

Many consumers associate local sustainable agriculture not only with distance, but also

with sound environmental and social practices. According to research from the USDA,

“local food systems have also been synonymous with small farms that are committed to

place through social and economic relationships. (Martinez, 2010)” The Sustainable

Agriculture Research and Education Center attributes 3 pillars to sustainable agriculture:

1) Profit over the long term 2) Stewardship of our nation’s land, air and water 3) Quality

of life for farmers, ranchers and their communities (SARE). It is crucial to combine both

definitions when analyzing a local sustainable food system. In the context of this paper,

local sustainable agriculture refers to farming operations that exhibit environmental

stewardship and produce food primarily for a local market within 100 miles of

production.

A marketing and revenue-generating practice often associated with local

sustainable agriculture is agritourism. Agritourism is an on-farm operation, in which the

public is encouraged to visit farms for events like tours, hayrides, u-pick, rustic

accommodation and even weddings (Beus). Agritourism has the potential to significantly

supplement farm income more than any other diversification strategy (Fig 1) and make

farms more resilient. Nationally the agritourism sector is becoming ever more profitable:

“The number of farms offering agritourism and recreational services declined 17 percent,

between 2002 and 2007. However, the income generated from these services increased

significantly … [generating] an average income of $24,276 in 2007, an increase of 236

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percent from 2002. (USDA 2007)” Agritourism attractions vary from farm to farm, each

taking on a unique character, but a uniting characteristic is that they are usually, “working

farms complementing primary agricultural functions with some form of tourism business.

(Nickerson, 2001)” Agritourism provides farmers with a secondary source of income and

it also allows them to interact directly with their customers, creating opportunities for

education and forming meaningful relationships. Some benefits of agritourism identified

by farmers are: “1) Balance out fluctuations in seasonal agricultural income 2) Increase

income 3) Meet a need in a recreation/vacation environment” (Nickerson 2001). The

third benefit is the most fitting in the Thousand Islands region. The area already hosts a

large tourist and seasonal resident population, and agritourism has the potential to

connect seasonal residents with the flavors of the area and to engage tourists in a deeper

experience with the local culture and landscape.

FACTORS FACILITATING LOCAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE 1000 ISLANDS:1. NATURE OF ENVIRONMENT

The climate of the Thousand Islands region is characterized by cold winters and

moderately warm summers with occasional hot spells. Precipitation is evenly distributed

throughout the year. The Thousand Island region has many microclimates, which create

opportunities for cultivating crops that traditionally do not thrive in the area. Land along

the St. Lawrence Seaway usually experiences milder temperatures and an extended

growing season compared to the inland (Yarnall, 2002). The granitic soil is not ideal for

large-scale, monoculture farming, but small scale, organic or biodynamic farming present

solutions to improve the soil. According to the Agricultural Protection Plan, “The soil

types in the County offer the opportunity for diverse types of agricultural production to

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occur” (Yarnall, 2002). Small scale biodynamic, Permaculture or organic farming would

augment the soil with organic matter to build ecological resilience and also revitalize land

that has been pounded flat by dairy farming or depleted of soil nutrients by monocultures

of hay, corn and soybeans. The variable nature of this environment makes local

sustainable agriculture the most appropriate form of agriculture for the landscape. Large-

scale “agribusiness” operations do not succeed as well because there are not large

expanses of level farmland with quality soil that can be cultivated with machines. Local,

sustainable-minded farmers are in the best position to succeed in the area.

In a survey conducted for the Jefferson County Agricultural and Farmland

Protection Plan, 68% of farmers identified environmental regulations as an impediment to

farming in the region (Yarnall, 2002). Instead of fighting environmental regulations,

Jefferson County should promote agricultural practices that benefit the environment by

creating a favorable environment for local, sustainable farming.

2. CHEAP AND AVAILABLE LAND

The Thousand Islands Region in Jefferson County has an agricultural land base

that is relatively inexpensive. Land is cheap and available for new farmers who are

willing to take risks in a unique and unpredictable environment. In a survey conducted

for the Jefferson County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan 71% of respondents

said that farmland is generally available in the Northern (Thousand Islands) agricultural

sector of Jefferson County (as opposed to 65 and 28 in the Central and Southern sectors)

(Yarnall, 2002).

The crash of the dairy industry with international commoditization devastated

many of the dairy farms in the area, which experienced difficulties surviving the

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fluctuations in commodity pricing (D. Baker, personal communication, April 4, 2012).

Dairy products still account for 78% of the agricultural products sold in the region

(Yarnall, 2002), but many farms have closed down, making land available at an

affordable price for farmers with new visions for the land.

3. OPEN MARKET FOR LOCAL PRODUCE

Another factor that makes sustainable agriculture viable in the Thousand Islands

is a national increase in public awareness about local food. More people are aware of

issues in food politics and support the movement for local, sustainable food. This

increase in national demand creates a favorable climate for agritourism. Direct farm to

customer sales have increased from $551 million in 1997 to $1.2 billion in 2007

(Martinez, 2010). People are more interested in discovering where their food comes from

and who produces it, and agritourism allows people to dive deeper into understanding

their food system.

4. TOURIST POPULATION

The seasonal tourist population is an untapped resource for farmers. Tourists

provide an external source of income to the region, which should be captured not only by

entertainment and recreation, but also by agriculture. Agritourism presents the potential

for tourists to engage with the local cultural landscape on a more intimate level. Farm

visits can lead to a deeper understanding local ecology and farms offer a more private

lodging alternative compared to crowded RV parks or densely populated tourist areas.

Farms also enhance the sense of place of a region, and engage residents in understanding

local, seasonal foods. In the Thousand Islands, for example, fishermen enjoy bullhead

fish in the early spring. This unique variety of fish is only found in the Thousand Islands

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region, and therefore adds to the unique character of the area and creates memorable

experiences for tourists. Farms have the potential to do the same. Seasonal produce like

parsnips, or unique varieties of food, like the blue-green eggs from ameraucana chickens,

connect tourists to the land, as well as connecting them with the people who produce the

food that they eat.

STATE OF LOCAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE 1000 ISLANDS:

The Thousand Islands is slowly beginning to support local sustainable agriculture

ventures. A review of tourism websites reveals the existence of multiple farmer’s

markets, farms offering agritourism activities and local food vendors. The Thousand

Islands International Tourism Council has created a website to promotes agritourism in

Jefferson County which includes a map for a self-guided tour of farms in the area, and a

complementary program called Talking Farms, which allows tourists to listen to

background information about farms along the route by dialing a code into their cell

phone. It also includes a list of farmers, farmers markets, wineries, vineyards, and local

food vendors in Jefferson County’s Thousand Island region. Additionally, Thousand

Islands International Tourism Council publishes a Thousand Islands Agricultural Tour

brochure which can be ordered on the website (http://www.agvisit.com/home.html).

In order to evaluate the current local food system in the area, data was gathered

from a variety of web sources including tourism pages and local food websites. Farms

were categorized based on their primary model of distribution (Agritourism, CSA,

specialty, other) and were mapped. It is important to note that most farms incorporate

more than one model of distribution into their business model. Many offer CSA shares,

while also selling a portion of their products at farmer’s markets, a portion to restaurants

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and operating a small farm stand. For these integrated farms, the method of distribution

that was most heavily emphasized on the website was used to determine the category.

Additionally, some farms included in the Agricultural Tour did not fit the definition of

sustainable agriculture employed in this paper. Farms that lacked elements of

environmental sustainability, or farms that sold primarily to wholesale distributors were

excluded from the map.

CASE STUDY: CROSS ISLAND FARMLocated on Wellesley Island, Cross Island Farm is a prime example of a diversified farm that has adapted to the unique challenges and opportunities of the area. Established in 2006 on an old dairy pasture, the farm offers a variety of services and utilizes multiple distribution methods. Cross Island Farms offers the following services:

24/7 Farm Stand where customers can purchase:o Certified Organic Produceo Certified Organic pastured beef, goat and porko Certified Organic eggso CSA Shareso Maple Syrup (seasonally)

Primitive Campsites Farm Tours (for a cost) Volunteer Opportunities Solar and Wind energy collectors

Distribution methods include farmers markets, CSA shares, a farm stand and selling to local restaurants. The farm produces more over 100 varieties of produce and emphasizes stewardship of the land, especially improvement of soil quality.(D. Baker, personal communication, April 4, 2012).

DISCUSSION: FOSTERING GROWTH OF LOCAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE 1000 ISLANDS

The growing success of sustainable agriculture in the Thousand Islands area is

apparent. A small-scale model of farming that focuses on direct marketing is most

appropriate in an area with poor soil quality, local demand for sustainable products and

tourist-dependent economy. The geography of the area (both physical and cultural) makes

it an appropriate venue for the expansion of local sustainable agriculture. Farms that

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produce a wide variety of local products and offer services in the area of agritourism are

more resilient and add character to the area. As the map illustrates, many farms focus on

specialty products besides horticulture. Many operations produce honey or maple syrup.

Some even produce fibers, like alpaca wool. The wide variety of products and services

offered decreases direct competition and increases the diversity of the local food system.

One interesting trend indicated by the map is the prominence of CSA farms on the

Canadian side of the border compared to the concentration of agritourism operation on

the US side. One potential reason for this trend is that the Canadian side has a stronger

base of local support for sustainable agriculture. Purchasing a CSA share is usually a six-

month to yearlong commitment, whereas agritourism can be a short term as an hour, or as

long term as a few weeks (in the case of a farm-stay). The agritourism model is better

suited to meet the needs of the seasonal population of the US side. Although work could

be done to increase the permanent base of support for local sustainable agriculture, the

Thousand Islands Region of the United States would benefit most from promoting

agritourism and marketing itself as a local food destination.

Agritourism and sustainable agriculture should be promoted in the Thousand

Islands Region in order to increase the utilization of arable land and to diversify the local

economy. The economic development plan should encourage more farm stands, farm-to-

table restaurants; Farmer’s Markets, local food retail stores and the region should market

itself as a unique food destination. Educational outreach should also be provided to

current and potential farmers about sustainable agriculture techniques. Local government

agencies should also work to secure funding through farmland conservation easements

and other forms of support for potential local sustainable farmers. The Thousand Islands

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region should take advantage of this unique opportunity to revive its rural landscape and

farmland and build its tourism base by encouraging the growth of local sustainable

agriculture and agritourism.

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FIGURES

Figure 1. Farm Income Sources (2003-2007). Agritourism generates the most income of all alternative farm income sources. (USDA).

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Figure 2. Farmer’s Markets, 2009. This map illustrates the prominence of local food systems in the northeast and west coast areas of the United States. Jefferson County has 11-20 markets, higher than most other counties in the country, indicating that demand exists for local food in the area. The culture and values of local food are apparent in the northeast, providing farmers with a supportive market in which to start agritourism operations. (Martinez, 2010).

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Figure 3. Local Sustainable Agriculture in the Thousand Islands Region based on an online survey of farm and market promotions. Cartography by author March 2012.

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Works Cited

Beus, Curtis E. n.d. Agritourism: Cultivating Tourists on the Farm, EB 2020. Washington State University Extention: Small Farms Team.

Martinez, S. et al. (2010) Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues, ERR 97. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

Nickerson, N.P., Black, R.J, McCool, S.F. (2001) Agritourism: Motivations behind farm/ranch business diversification. Journal of Travel Research 40, 19-26.

Peters, C. J., et al. (2009). Foodshed analysis and its relevance to sustainability. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24 (1), 1-7.

SARE. What is sustainable agriculture? n.d. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/SARE-Program-Materials/National-Program-Materials/What-is-Sustainable-Agriculture

Thousand Islands International Tourism Council (2009). Thousand Islands Agricultural Tour. Retrieved from http://www.agvisit.com/home.html.

USDA. 2007 Census of Agriculture: Agricultural Diversification. (2007). National Agricultural Statistics Service. www.agcensus.usda.gov

Yarnall, George O. Jefferson County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. (2002).

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