Why Economic Developers Should Spend More Time on Farms

Ask someone to name the industries that drive economic development and you'll likely hear manufacturing, technology, healthcare, logistics, or business recruitment. Rarely does anyone say agriculture, and that’s a mistake.

Agriculture is often viewed through a different lens than other industries. We talk about its heritage, its traditions, and its role in feeding communities, all of which are important. What we talk about less is agriculture’s role as an economic engine. Every farm is a business that supports jobs, purchases goods and services, and creates ripple effects that extend far beyond the farm gate.

Consider a vegetable grower. They purchase seed, equipment, fertilizer, fuel, insurance, accounting services, marketing support, and transportation. Their products may be sold through grocery stores, restaurants, farmers markets, food distributors, schools, or food manufacturers. The economic impact stretches across an entire ecosystem, supporting equipment dealers, veterinarians, truck drivers, processors, restaurants, retailers, tourism operators, marketers, accountants, lenders, and countless other businesses throughout the supply chain. Few industries touch as many sectors of a local economy as agriculture.

Agriculture does not just create jobs on farms; it supports jobs throughout the entire food system. The same can be said for agritourism. For years, agritourism was often viewed as a side business or supplemental revenue stream. Today, it is increasingly becoming a powerful economic development tool.

The data reflects that growth. According to the Census of Agriculture, agritourism in South Carolina increased from $6.2 million in 2017 to $14 million in 2022. When visitors travel to pick strawberries, attend a farm dinner, visit a flower farm, or spend a weekend exploring local food experiences, they do more than support a farm. They buy gas, visit restaurants, stay in hotels, shop at local businesses, contribute to sales tax revenue, and introduce new dollars into rural communities. Agritourism creates economic activity that benefits entire regions.

Just as importantly, it creates something that economic developers often work hard to cultivate: quality of life. Increasingly, economic development is also about talent attraction and retention. Communities compete not only for businesses, but for residents, entrepreneurs, and workforce talent. People want to live in places that feel authentic, with local businesses, community events, farmers markets, open spaces, local food, and unique experiences. Farms help create the sense of place that attracts residents, visitors, entrepreneurs, and employers alike.

In many ways, agriculture sits at the intersection of economic development, tourism, entrepreneurship, and community development. In York County, we’re seeing this connection play out in real time through the growing alignment between agriculture, tourism, and economic development. Through our work with Visit York County and York County Economic Development, we’ve intentionally focused on telling stories that showcase farms not only as agricultural producers, but as employers, entrepreneurs, destinations, and community assets.

Agriculture is more than an industry; it is part of the community infrastructure that makes a place attractive to visit, live, work, and invest. Too often, it is separated from conversations about economic development, when in reality it belongs at the center of them.

The communities that thrive in the future will understand that economic development is not simply about attracting the next big employer. It is about recognizing, supporting, and growing the assets that already make a place unique. Farms do more than grow food. They create jobs, attract visitors, support small businesses, strengthen community identity, and improve quality of life. In other words, they do exactly what economic developers are trying to accomplish.

Which is why economic developers should spend more time on farms.