© 2024 WUGA | University of Georgia
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UGA Expert on Agritourism During Pandemic

College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

Agribusiness is the number industry in Georgia, with a $76 billion annual financial impact. While early in the pandemic last year, some sectors, especially livestock, suffered losses; one area that actually saw growth was agritourism.

Mark McCann is an assistant dean for the extension at the University of Georgia.

"There's been a push as we've tried to be spatial in COVID times and spread out. Then there's been a push for people in recreational activities who aren't looking for amusement parks that are densely populated, they're looking for trips to the country."

McCann says agritourism, which combines traditional agriculture with tourism, includes a diverse selection of options; from picking your own fruit to pumpkin patches, visiting wineries, and more.

"In fact, a lot of the pick-your-own type farm operations back in the summer and late fall- to keep social distance they had to monitor who'd come and visit. You take that interest and then those that want to know where their food comes from, how to preserve it themselves, the source of their food, the wholesomeness of it. You combine those two efforts and there's a lot of interest. That would be one of the success stories for agriculture. It doesn't generate as many millions of dollars, but for those involved, it was a very good year."

Visit georgia-agritourism.org

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!