San Luis Obispo to host agritourism leaders and farm tours
San Luis Obispo County in California will host the 2026 California Agritourism Summit from September 23 to 25. The event is organized by the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program under UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The summit will bring together farmers, policymakers, tourism experts, and business professionals to share knowledge about agritourism. Participants will attend keynote sessions, panel discussions, and workshops designed to provide practical tools and ideas.
Event organizer Rachael Callahan, the statewide agritourism coordinator with UC SAREP, highlighted that attendees will visit a wide range of farms. These include an urban farm, a large cattle ranch, and an indoor mushroom production facility. This variety will help participants understand different farm sizes and business models.
“We’re going to an urban farm. Then we’ll be out on a big, huge cattle ranch. And an indoor mushroom growing facility,” said Callahan. “San Luis Obispo just has a lot to offer in terms of scale and products.”
The program is designed for multiple audiences. Farmers can learn about emergency preparedness and ways to access financial support. Tourism and economic development professionals will gain insights into attracting agritourism to their regions. Networking sessions supported by California Grown will help build connections across the industry.
The summit also comes at a time when agritourism is growing in California. Recently, a new law was passed to simplify permits for low impact camping on private land. This change supports farmers interested in hosting visitors and creating additional income sources.
“California is more than the country’s leading agricultural state; it’s where food, family, and farming intersect in powerful ways that consumers can directly experience,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross.
“Agritourism adds additional income for farming families while helping people from across the globe learn where their food comes from and connect with some of the people who grow it,” said Ross
“We look forward to wandering off the beaten path, with new friends and old, to discover urban farms, tucked-away family ranches and hand-crafted goods made right along the trail. These are places shaped by seasons, sweat and tradition,” said Lynette Sonne of FARMstead ED.
The summit is organized with support from several partners, including California Grown, FARMstead ED, GO Biz, and Siskiyou Economic Development. It aims to strengthen agritourism across the state by sharing successful ideas and practices.
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