PHOTO: Niagara West MPP Sam Ossterhoff (left) and the Honourable Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, sawing wood on the sugar bush tour at White Meadows Farms in Niagara. Photo courtesy of Agritourism Ontario.
On April 2, 2025, members of Ontario’s agritourism sector met with the province’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, the Hon. Stan Cho to discuss what is one of the fastest growing and popular sectors in tourism. Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries also joined the tour.
Agritourism Ontario (AO) member White Meadows Farms hosted Minister Cho in the morning for a tour of their sugarbush, on-farm store, and processing facilities. The Minister then met with a delegation of agritourism operators and stakeholders at AO member 13th Street Winery for a productive session on the potential of the sector, some challenges, and the work being done by Ontario farmers who have diversified their business and now welcome the public onto their properties for a taste of agriculture.
“It was an honour to have the minister visit our farm. His sincere interest in our operation and agritourism overall is exciting to see and greatly appreciated,” said Richard Bering, owner of White Meadows Farms.
Agritourism Ontario’s board chair Darlene Downey echoed Berring’s comments adding, “We are so appreciative of the minister’s support for agritourism which is such a key component of the overall tourism sector in Ontario.
“We have been blessed with excellent support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness under the leadership of former ministers Thompson and Flack and now with Minister Jones. It’s exciting to see everyone working together to grow this sector.”
Minister Cho stated: “The growth of agritourism across the province provides wonderful opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to learn about the importance of agriculture and enjoy delicious, made-in-Ontario produce, all while supporting our local farmers and rural economy. During these uncertain times, the work Agritourism Ontario does to help our farmers stay competitive, attract patrons, and showcase the breadth and beauty of our agricultural communities to the world has never been more important.”
AO is currently working on two significant projects; the first economic growth study for the sector, and a new agritourism app that will be a fun way for families to connect to their local farms.
Agritourism Ontario was founded in 1973 and is Ontario's only association solely focused on the growth and support of the province’s agritourism sector and its operators.
More information is available at www.agritourismontario.com.