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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1998-09-30, Page 17Second Section - September 30, 1998 Huron Harvest Trail joins agriculture and tourism Above: Len Whaling of Grand Bend Orchards sees the HHT as a positive. =initiative :that will increase his: business.,, Below:.Huron Harvest Trail signs identify.producerr and attractions that are part of the agri-tourism project. • • By. Kate Monk T•A Repwier • HURON COUNTY Huron County has taken another leapIbnvard as'a tourist destination with the launch of the Huron Harvest 'frail. 'Fhc project marries Huron County's two biggest industries — agriculture and tuurisnt and is _- expected to make Huron:Coutrty an even larger tourist destination. • • . According to project manager C :rss I3aylcy. • Huron tourism operators tossed. around the idea . years ago but didn't have. the resources to develop the concept. But a two-year. .643)t)UC'anAdapl. grant from the Agricultural Adaptation Council of Agriculture and'Agri=food Canada m last 1997 and matching financial contributions honk several - partners pro) idcd the resources to snake die dream a teahly. - -'fhe partners include ihe }tui ro'lOurisnr Association,.liurunFederation id Agn.•ulotte. Huron Business I)evelopntctu Corporarron.Ileusall- 1 miotic Development Committee, lntetnattoual - l'Iowing, Match,'99 Committee, ( \ oI Huro), Ontario Agricultural "I'rainiing Institute and %Mien: Rural Economic Devclopnieni and weathers of the 1{HT. "The time is perfett,',Bayley said. se got • the product. We just have to tell the world about it.- ' The Lake Huron shoreline and the cirunty's Iarnt landscapes are an.excellent combination for tourism. according to, Bayley • - "Here you get 19 sec the 'Yater and everything . else,",Bayley said. She expects the HHa' will attract new tourists to - the°county from Canada, the U.S. and beyond as well as extending the length of time tourists stay in the county. Dashwutrd. • - Seventy -live attractions are on the -Huron Harvest . 'Frail with producers staking up 61) percent of the • attractions. Restaurants, -food stores and • ', accommodations that sell Huron County produce . comprise 40 percent of the tour. "A big part of it, is to offer a really. good cross- section.- We stuck true to, the agriculture theme.'. Bayley explained. 7o be part of the Huron Harvest - Trail. the business must either produce. serge or sell - food grown in Huron County. The county has been divided into three • geographic areas. each with a tour «cute. North Huron is the 'Hi» ncstcad Ramble' • route. Central Hurim is entitled. • • 'County Lanes' and the South Huron arca•is.Tields of Plenty'. When the C'anAdapt• grant was approved last fall. -Bayley was hired by the Huron 7ourisnt • Association rind met with the stakeholders to pull the agri tourism vision together. . - Carol Coleman and Mary Lynn MacDonald are also part of the project team and have toured the county's highways and hack roads to get a feel • for the enterprises - • appropriate for tourism. . •"fhc women were pleased with -what they saw and started publicizing the HHT-to farmers and businesses. Bayley • describes what happened next as a ''groundswell' as pcoplc started signing up. While she had hoped for 35 attractions, 75 signed -up for the trail • and she Inas awaiting• list for next year's edition: Each attraction has been visited and evaluated by Bayley's team to ensure it is suitable. Operators nu I'.. mc. ti's a package we-cairhang our hats 011. - lc y n.,,lcv s:ud proudly •fhc conerelit oI a tour package is import.ui1 to •I3aylcy. She cors the example till the Niagara wind • tour where pcoplc visit vineyards.to learn about the wine irrdusti • and to buy.-prrducts. • Bayley said the wine tour packaging and marketing are vital to the success of the Niagara • . Region as a tourist destination.- The estination.•fhe Huron Har•esi Trail tour package has a cohesive hick with a consistent logo and; word mark - �in the promotional. materrds..Bayle-y's leant has developed signs to welcome visitors to the county and the -Huron Harvest 'Frail. Sites on the -tour have_. • cinrtncc signs. identifying them as - ']'t members of the HHT. At the jr� - ' e-rl'est estahlisluncnt..cards, stickers and % - OI^ • enu' inserts verify the products • .e been grown in Huron. Bayley.says the "heavy expenses', have -already been covered and the . second year of the grants will cover • the rnajorfaunch and advertising. - Down the road, corporate sponsorship will he called on to driver the ongoing • costs of printed materials. advertising - 1999 must attend a workshop on dealing with the public. Operators don't have to provide special facilities, 'bi able to'handlc a bus tour or be open to the public.. scvcn days a week or year-round. - - Bayley says the Huron Harvest Trail has hcen a boon for small operators. • "This has been really nice for the small -operator. It's the first time they've Iiad a marketing - - initiative," she said, adding some larger, More. establishedtourism businesses arc waiting to see how the trail goes before conning onboard. . Bayley believes theinitiative has "no where Co go but up." .- Organizers offer workshops on value-added products. providing superior service and being arnhassrdors for Huron County,. The goal for this fall is to have the HHT up and running, to co-ordinate the members and to get the word out.:about the project, Bayley said.- This aid.'Chis winter. seminars will further educate Hill' inembersand the trail will he marketed at (ravel • shows and Canadian consulates. lite HHT will he aggressively launched next spring and will be well established by next summer in time for the international Plowing Match near gird management. A website is in the works for the HHT that will he cross-linked to the Huron . . Tourism Association. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,. Food and. Rural Affairs and other agencies. Staff will also maintain a database with details on each attraction such as wheelchair accessibility•itnd the ability to accommodate -bus tours. . Bayley alrcatly has a waiting list of producers and attractions who would like to 'he included on the HHT. - - - • Grand Bend Orchards on County Road #83 between Port Blake and Dashwood is one of the. • stops on the route. Owner Len Whaling hopes. the HHT will increase his customer base beyond his - regular clientele, Cottagcrs already 'stop in on their way to Lake Huron to purchase fruit grown in 32 acres of orchards. Whaling already -got a taste of the'benefrts of a,. • large number of tourists when.Grand Bend Orchards was a slop on the '98 Huron Farm Hiker Tour custonters were lined.up for nearly 20 feet, - according to Whaling. • - ` Being included in the HHT has -cost Len and his wife Donna more than $100 for the fanngate sign. being included in the trail brochure and a tourism-. related training course. fhc Windings were not required -to change -• anything in ;heir business to be on the HHT and Len is Optimistic about the impact the HH•1' will have on their bottom line. - • As a director of the Huron. Federation of Agriculture. Len anticipatcs-positive'results for' ' producers throughout the county..-•_ Bayley says the project is_ solidly backed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and OMAFRA. • "lb find out more about the project. call Bayley at 263-5050. JOHN A.M. NORRIS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT ANNOUNCES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1998 Wilf Elliott and the staff of W.L. Elliott Services Inc. will join the staff of John A.M. Norris, C.A. John A.M.•Norris, C.A. is a full service public -accounting firm providing accounting, taxation;. advisory, and consulting services to a wide range of personal, firm and, business clients. Through an alliance with TKO Computer Systems, hardware and software sales, nettivork integration and corporate solutions consulting are available. We have "Complete Business Solutions at one Address." if you are looking for professional Assistance, come in and check us out. We can be reache-i in Exeter and Seaforth at the locations below. Potential clients receive an initial free consultation. Set up your appointment now 370 Main Street South PO Box 2410 - Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S7 Tel: 519-235-3240 Toll Free: 1-800-661-6344 www.jnorrisca.cont 12 Main Street North PO Box 729 Seaforth, Ontario NOK1W0 Tel: 519-527-0672 Toll Free: 1-888-606-6146 A ,. j .----- T as RENTAL&o P rrEbRENTAL ,,L...,LIV/AIVL/IP'1 TOOL & 11111 STOP at the Dottcenter. , ' 41:Min Sigial_fi (-) ii_roxyL 3i11LIE King Model KC1OGC 2 hp g 64900 10" TABLE SAW Reg. $699.95 SALE $ King Model KC614C 14" BANDSAW Reg. $487.11 SALE $43699 King Model KC13FC 5/8" DRILL PRESS Reg. $31,2.12 SALE $27900 King Model KC690 6" BENCH GRINDER Reg. $62.35 SALE $4999' FOR ALL YOLJIR RENTAL IILSNJ U. S SEE US... 1 AND centerTICK-UP DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABL EXETER 235-4441 the county. Dashwutrd. • - Seventy -live attractions are on the -Huron Harvest . 'Frail with producers staking up 61) percent of the • attractions. Restaurants, -food stores and • ', accommodations that sell Huron County produce . comprise 40 percent of the tour. "A big part of it, is to offer a really. good cross- section.- We stuck true to, the agriculture theme.'. Bayley explained. 7o be part of the Huron Harvest - Trail. the business must either produce. serge or sell - food grown in Huron County. The county has been divided into three • geographic areas. each with a tour «cute. North Huron is the 'Hi» ncstcad Ramble' • route. Central Hurim is entitled. • • 'County Lanes' and the South Huron arca•is.Tields of Plenty'. When the C'anAdapt• grant was approved last fall. -Bayley was hired by the Huron 7ourisnt • Association rind met with the stakeholders to pull the agri tourism vision together. . - Carol Coleman and Mary Lynn MacDonald are also part of the project team and have toured the county's highways and hack roads to get a feel • for the enterprises - • appropriate for tourism. . •"fhc women were pleased with -what they saw and started publicizing the HHT-to farmers and businesses. Bayley • describes what happened next as a ''groundswell' as pcoplc started signing up. While she had hoped for 35 attractions, 75 signed -up for the trail • and she Inas awaiting• list for next year's edition: Each attraction has been visited and evaluated by Bayley's team to ensure it is suitable. Operators nu I'.. mc. ti's a package we-cairhang our hats 011. - lc y n.,,lcv s:ud proudly •fhc conerelit oI a tour package is import.ui1 to •I3aylcy. She cors the example till the Niagara wind • tour where pcoplc visit vineyards.to learn about the wine irrdusti • and to buy.-prrducts. • Bayley said the wine tour packaging and marketing are vital to the success of the Niagara • . Region as a tourist destination.- The estination.•fhe Huron Har•esi Trail tour package has a cohesive hick with a consistent logo and; word mark - �in the promotional. materrds..Bayle-y's leant has developed signs to welcome visitors to the county and the -Huron Harvest 'Frail. Sites on the -tour have_. • cinrtncc signs. identifying them as - ']'t members of the HHT. At the jr� - ' e-rl'est estahlisluncnt..cards, stickers and % - OI^ • enu' inserts verify the products • .e been grown in Huron. Bayley.says the "heavy expenses', have -already been covered and the . second year of the grants will cover • the rnajorfaunch and advertising. - Down the road, corporate sponsorship will he called on to driver the ongoing • costs of printed materials. advertising - 1999 must attend a workshop on dealing with the public. Operators don't have to provide special facilities, 'bi able to'handlc a bus tour or be open to the public.. scvcn days a week or year-round. - - Bayley says the Huron Harvest Trail has hcen a boon for small operators. • "This has been really nice for the small -operator. It's the first time they've Iiad a marketing - - initiative," she said, adding some larger, More. establishedtourism businesses arc waiting to see how the trail goes before conning onboard. . Bayley believes theinitiative has "no where Co go but up." .- Organizers offer workshops on value-added products. providing superior service and being arnhassrdors for Huron County,. The goal for this fall is to have the HHT up and running, to co-ordinate the members and to get the word out.:about the project, Bayley said.- This aid.'Chis winter. seminars will further educate Hill' inembersand the trail will he marketed at (ravel • shows and Canadian consulates. lite HHT will he aggressively launched next spring and will be well established by next summer in time for the international Plowing Match near gird management. A website is in the works for the HHT that will he cross-linked to the Huron . . Tourism Association. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,. Food and. Rural Affairs and other agencies. Staff will also maintain a database with details on each attraction such as wheelchair accessibility•itnd the ability to accommodate -bus tours. . Bayley alrcatly has a waiting list of producers and attractions who would like to 'he included on the HHT. - - - • Grand Bend Orchards on County Road #83 between Port Blake and Dashwood is one of the. • stops on the route. Owner Len Whaling hopes. the HHT will increase his customer base beyond his - regular clientele, Cottagcrs already 'stop in on their way to Lake Huron to purchase fruit grown in 32 acres of orchards. Whaling already -got a taste of the'benefrts of a,. • large number of tourists when.Grand Bend Orchards was a slop on the '98 Huron Farm Hiker Tour custonters were lined.up for nearly 20 feet, - according to Whaling. • - ` Being included in the HHT has -cost Len and his wife Donna more than $100 for the fanngate sign. being included in the trail brochure and a tourism-. related training course. fhc Windings were not required -to change -• anything in ;heir business to be on the HHT and Len is Optimistic about the impact the HH•1' will have on their bottom line. - • As a director of the Huron. Federation of Agriculture. Len anticipatcs-positive'results for' ' producers throughout the county..-•_ Bayley says the project is_ solidly backed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and OMAFRA. • "lb find out more about the project. call Bayley at 263-5050. JOHN A.M. NORRIS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT ANNOUNCES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1998 Wilf Elliott and the staff of W.L. Elliott Services Inc. will join the staff of John A.M. Norris, C.A. John A.M.•Norris, C.A. is a full service public -accounting firm providing accounting, taxation;. advisory, and consulting services to a wide range of personal, firm and, business clients. Through an alliance with TKO Computer Systems, hardware and software sales, nettivork integration and corporate solutions consulting are available. We have "Complete Business Solutions at one Address." if you are looking for professional Assistance, come in and check us out. We can be reache-i in Exeter and Seaforth at the locations below. Potential clients receive an initial free consultation. Set up your appointment now 370 Main Street South PO Box 2410 - Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S7 Tel: 519-235-3240 Toll Free: 1-800-661-6344 www.jnorrisca.cont 12 Main Street North PO Box 729 Seaforth, Ontario NOK1W0 Tel: 519-527-0672 Toll Free: 1-888-606-6146 A ,. j