PRESS RELEASE
Agritourism Ontario Launches First Economic Growth study for province’s agritourism sector
April 7, (Niagara, ON) – Agritourism Ontario (AO) is pleased to announce the launch of an economic growth study for Ontario’s agritourism sector. This project aims to understand the sector’s economic impact and chart a course for growth by identifying opportunities and challenges for Ontario’s vibrant agritourism industry. This project is bringing together experts in the field of agriculture, rural economic development, and economic analysis to advance the understanding and identify meaningful opportunities for the sector.
The research will be conducted by Wilton Consulting Group in partnership with MNP.
“This project comes at a time when people are looking to support local more than ever. This important work will enable Agritourism Ontario to hear directly from farmers and the tourism industry to help us continue to grow and showcase how farms that offer agritourism are contributing to our local economy and a path forward for the next several years,” said Darlene Downey, Chair, Agritourism Ontario board of directors.
“Agritourism is driving growth across Ontario’s $51 billion agri-food industry,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “The threat of U.S. tariffs on our farmers and agribusinesses makes it more critical than ever to support Ontario families in purchasing world-class local food and exploring local agritourism opportunities. Our government will continue to protect our agritourism operators and strengthen the conditions for their long-term growth, no matter what may come our way.”
“As the voice for agritourism in Ontario, we look forward to identifying opportunities to help the industry thrive based on the experiences of on-the-ground of farmers and industry representatives. Our mission is to advocate for and support our members – those owning and operating diversified farms,” added AO CEO Kevin Vallier.
With a focus on engaging farmers who provide agritourism, the tourism sector, and agritourism visitors, the research will involve an industry-wide farmer survey, one-on-one interviews with key industry representatives, and research on sector challenges and opportunities. The findings will contribute to the understanding of Ontario’s agritourism sector as an important economic asset, and opportunities to support farm business development and ultimately, ensure Ontarians can enjoy Ontario food, products, and experiences for years to come.
“Our research team is thrilled to be working with Agritourism Ontario on this project. We can’t wait to connect with farmers, farm visitors, and industry leaders to dive into this important research. Our goal is to help Ontario’s agritourism sector thrive and keep growing for years to come,” said Krista Chapman, Director, Rural Economic Development & Sustainability, Wilton Consulting Group.
“This timely research will give us valuable insights into the impact of Ontario’s agritourism industry based on the most up to date information from farmers and visitors,” explained Susan Mowbray, Partner, MNP.
The project launched in February and will continue through December 2025. Updates and findings will be shared through Agritourism Ontario’s network.
For more information about this initiative, please subscribe to Agritourism Ontario’s newsletter at https://agritourismontario.com/contact/ or contact info@agritourismontario.com
About Agritourism Ontario
Agritourism Ontario (AO) was founded in 1973 as a not-for-profit, educational, and promotional organization. Its general membership is made up of dedicated Ontario farmers with a keen interest in promoting the direct farm sales industry, welcoming families to farms, and encouraging improvements and maintaining integrity in the industry. Agritourism Ontario represents hundreds of diversified Ontario farms and is the voice of agritourism for the province.
About Wilton Consulting Group
Wilton Consulting Group is a team of experienced and dedicated consultants in the agri-food and rural economic development sectors. We offer customized project management and research skills to deliver meaningful outcomes to advance sustainability in agri-food systems and rural communities. We always bring a fresh approach to every project, spanning from local to international.
About MNP
For 60 years, MNP has proudly served and responded to the needs of clients in public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Today MNP is the fastest growing professional services firm in Canada with more than 125 offices and 8,100 team members across the country. We have over 400 partners in Ontario who support businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to large public companies. In the past five years, MNP’s Custom Research and Economic Insights Practice has successfully conducted more than 50 economic impact studies.
Contact:
Kevin Vallier
Agritourism Ontario
kevin@agritourismontario.com