Local farmers want to plant a seed in the minds of city and suburban dwellers. You don't have to drive far to experience rolling fields, orchards of crisp apples, patches of bulging orange pumpkins and other wonders of fall.
Farmers, county agencies and agriculture groups have organized the nine-day Howard County Farm-City Celebration, which will start Saturday, to highlight farms in the county and what they provide. Several locations will offer farm tours, fall activities such as hayrides and corn mazes, farmers' markets, demonstrations of antique farm machinery and other events.
"Agriculture is still an important part of the Howard County economy, but it is not a very visible part of the Howard County economy anymore," said Martha Clark, owner of Clark's Elioak Farm in Ellicott City and chairwoman of the Farm-City Celebration Council.
"I think it's important for people to realize when they drive past some open land it's not just a field ... that is waiting to be developed. It actually is an integral part of the Howard County economy. That land is producing products and services."
According to the Howard County Economic Development Authority, farming is one of the top five county industries with annual sales of more than $200 million.
A survey last year by the authority found that more and more of the county's farms are small and looking at direct-marketing strategies to make more on each sale.
In the survey, 25 percent of respondents were using farm stands to sell directly to customers, 23 percent were using pick-your-own operations and 18 percent were using agritourism, which includes activities like hayrides, corn mazes and petting farms.
"I think that [farmers] like to celebrate their farm heritage here," said Rachelina Bonacci, executive director of Howard County Tourism Inc. "They are looking for new customers or preserving their way of life by opening their doors to the public."
Bonacci said there is great potential for selling the farm experience to people in surrounding urban areas, particularly as more people express an interest in natural products, fresh food and organic eating.
"You can escape all that hustle and bustle out on a farm, picking your own apples ... but you are within an hour's drive from the two cities [Baltimore and Washington]," she said.
Several Farm-City participants already use agritourism and pick-your-own attractions but hope to draw more visitors for fall activities and new events.
