With some sensible precautions it’s not hard to imagine honey lovers swarming apiaries for a closer look at how the natural sweetener is produced.

Currently there’s a series of television commercials featuring an insurance company representative being offered favors from would-be customers in exchange for discounted rates. In one, the rep is visiting the apiary of a nerdy beekeeper, who offers to the insurance guy a bite of the honeycomb he’s just pulled from a hive. Wary of removing the screened hood preventing him from being stung, the insurance rep politely declines.

As Michigan’s beer renaissance surges and hops enjoy ‘it-crop’ status, welcoming visitors makes a lager sense.

Every time I see that clip I remember one time, visiting a member’s farm, I was offered the exact same thing: a bite from a raw honeycomb just yanked from a hive. Suspecting it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I humbly partook and was briefly transported to some higher level of Honey Heaven. Mind you it mostly ruined everyday honey for me, but I’m not sorry I took advantage of the generous offer. (I won’t lie: Such experiences are a great perk to working for Michigan farmers!)

The December discussion topic challenged you to consider potential growth areas in agritourism. One response meant to be in jest — suggesting a member open up his apiary to the public — I honestly wouldn’t dismiss it without giving it a good think. Sure there’s all kinds of safeguards and precautions you’d have to take, but you gotta know there’s a segment of honey lovers out there who’d jump at the chance to get a peek into how their favorite sweet goo is produced.

It may’ve sounded equally ludicrous the first time someone proposed carving a maze out of a perfectly good stand of field corn, but now look around you come October!

Question #1: Discuss the state of agritourism in your county and region. How has it changed (presumably grown) in recent decades?

• Agritourism is alive and well in Monroe County. During the past decade several farms have transitioned to a younger generation who have expanded the offerings on the farm, or opened the farm up to this new venture, in an effort to increase profitability. Other farms have also stepped into this opportunity. (Modern Producers; Monroe County)
• Alive and well. Party barns, apple orchards with Halloween events, farm markets in every town. (Rural Rascals; Washtenaw County)

Question #2: How well (accurately) do agritourism ventures in your area depict the realities of food commodity production?

• While none of our group are involved in this venture directly, we do make visits to some of the farms that are. We have seen many of them expanding their learning opportunities to families who visit them. Examples include displays of animals at farms selling crops such as pumpkins or apples, or other non-livestock farms giving the customers an opportunity to learn about the animal aspect of agriculture while there. (Modern Producers; Monroe County)
• It has become more of an entertainment event designed for profit rather than showing the farming processes. (Rural Rascals; Washtenaw County)

Question #3: With the exception of summertime berry picking, Michigan’s most common agritourism ventures are pri­marily autumnal: apples, pumpkins then Christmas trees as winter approaches. What opportunities might be feasible for expanded agritourism activities in the winter and spring?

• We know there are several hops farms in our area and think that could be a good option as our group visited one several years ago and learned a lot about a crop none of us knew anything about. Since one of our members keeps honeybees it was suggested (tongue in cheek) that this would be a new venture in agritourism he should consider. (Modern Producers; Monroe County)
• Winter has too many weather issues to deal with. Spring is too busy and there isn't anything harvested to showcase. (Rural Rascals; Washtenaw County)