design of agrotourism facilities: U-pick berries for example
Agritourism is a growing field where a farm is not only a place for producing crops or livestock but also a destination for visitors. Faced with competition from industrial agriculture and pressure on prices, agritourism can become a reliable foundation for the economic sustainability of an eco-farm or a small family farm.
The approach to creating a farm-based tourist facility can vary—from building a glamping site with modern amenities to offering day-visit spaces where guests can relax during harvest activities. Designing a farm with glamping is often a smart option, but it must be carefully planned with a clear unique selling proposition (USP) to stand out from competitors.
For example, one scenario is a farm with a cheese dairy that attracts visitors eager to learn about cheesemaking, while also promoting products to them as consumers. Another option could be a retreat designed as a “shelter” for people seeking solitude and a calm, non-competitive environment to recover from stress, illness, or family problems. A third model could be a petting zoo featuring llamas, goats, ostriches, and other animals. Or it might be a horse farm offering lessons in equestrian sports or horse care—both popular services. In this way, agritourism can also be therapeutic, helping guests improve health and mental well-being.\
Agritourism projects need careful planning to address:
Guest needs—accommodation, private rooms, water supply, electricity, cooking facilities, bathrooms, showers, or a sauna.
Harvest processing areas—sorting and weighing crops when running U-pick events.
Group spaces—large indoor rooms for yoga, wellness, or psychological workshops.
Safety—fire systems, electrical safety, and compliance with building standards. Proper agritourism design requires planning, not improvisation.
What is agritourism and why is it popular
farm in England and tourist houses
Agritourism is a form of rural tourism where people visit farms or villages to relax, experience country life, take part in farming, or simply enjoy nature and healthy, locally produced food.
Why it’s attractive:
Escape from urban stress: City dwellers look for eco-friendly, authentic, slow-paced environments—without fully committing to country living.
Local food experiences: Fresh farm products, cooking classes, tastings of cheese, beer, wine, jams, or preserves. Some farms grow herbs for tea.
Educational value for children: Farms as interactive learning spaces. From a psychological perspective, contact with animals—horses, dogs, ponies, llamas, goats—guided by instructors or therapists—offers therapeutic benefits.
Unique experiences: Travelers value activities different from mass-market barbecue-and-beach tourism, and more cultured than wilderness trekking.
What to build and how much it costs: agritourism infrastructure
To host guests, a farm must provide comfort, hygiene, and memorable experiences.
Minimum infrastructure includes:
Guest houses or glamping tents with amenities.
Bathrooms, showers, electricity, and heating.
Dining facilities: cafeteria, café, or outdoor kitchen.
Interactive areas: guided tours, workshop spaces, small petting zoos.
Estimated construction costs for agritourism accommodation:
Type of accommodation
Cost of construction
Notes
Glamping (tents with amenities)
from $620–1,000 per m²
Quick to launch, seasonal
Guest house / cottage
from $870–1,250 per m²
Year-round use
Small hotel (5–10 rooms)
from $1,115–1,610 per m²
Requires higher investment and licensing
The most affordable option is a glamping site with 3–5 tents, which can pay for itself within 1–2 seasons.
Designing a glamping site or tourist base typically costs at least 5% of the construction budget, starting from about $35 per m² for a complete set of project documents.
In simpler cases, a design package may be enough—this includes building drawings, visualizations, and a bill of materials and works.
One of the most popular formats is U-pick harvest tourism. Well-established in Europe and the US, this model is regaining popularity in Russia.
How U-pick format works:
Guests pay an entrance fee (about $4–6).
They pick berries themselves—some can be eaten on-site, the rest is weighed and paid for.
Add-ons may include photo zones in the fields, cafés serving berry desserts, or workshops on jam-making and berry drinks.
Typical crops for U-pick farms:
Strawberries (June–July)
Raspberries (July–August)
Blueberries, bilberries (July–August)
Apples, plums (September)
This format reduces harvest labor costs by engaging visitors directly. But it’s not only about economics: picking fruit brings joy and relaxation. Why? Because it taps into one of humanity’s oldest psychological archetypes—an instinct deeply embedded in us that provides restorative leisure for city dwellers, office workers, young people, and seniors alike.
Agritourism and farm-based production: cheese, beer, wine, animals
The most attractive and blog-related farms combine agritourism with artisanal production.
Farm products are transformed into experiences, not just food.
The farmer becomes both host and curator of events.
Farms can host wellness or rehabilitation spaces, with volunteers working in exchange for room and board.
Yoga or wellness classes offered for small fees; temporary residents can provide affordable farm labor.
With the right approach, occasional guests turn into loyal customers.
Agritourism is more than just an extra income stream—it is a way to build a sustainable economy around farming, ecology, and respect for the land. It tells a new story about the farm and creates a loyal community of consumers, partners, and guests.
In times of unstable food prices, pressure from agricultural corporations, and market competition, agritourism provides small farms and eco-farms with a real path toward stability, brand recognition, and growth.
Our services in farm tourism design
We offer agribusiness and agritourism project development for your farm or as part of a full farm design. We can also carry out practical work under contract: land clearing, site preparation, drainage system installation, and earthworks.
We design turnkey farms and provide consultations from an agronomist and agricultural technician, contact us via messenger at the bottom of the page!
