UGA Extension supports agritourism through expert advice and collaboration

Daniel employs seven full-time workers year-round, but that number grows during peak agritourism seasons. But his farm doesn't just provide jobs - it brings people together. "I see families gathering here, and that's the biggest benefit to the community," Daniel said. "It's really special when visitors tell me they came here as kids and now they're bringing their own children, that the farm is part of their own family traditions."

Mark's Melon Patch has evolved significantly since its roadside beginnings in 1981. What started as a watermelon stand in the back of a pickup has grown into an agritourism destination with pumpkins, hayrides, a corn maze and U-pick strawberries. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the farm adapted to employ safety protocols, providing a much-needed escape for families seeking fresh air and connection.

More than crops, he's grown a community.

Though smaller than typical commercial farms, Daniel's 50-acre operation is highly diversified. He grows watermelons, corn, sunflowers, strawberries, peanuts and pumpkins - each with its own unique demands for pest management, water and fertilizer, McAllister explained. All the while, Daniel runs a bustling agritourism business, which McAllister praises for its continued and ever-growing success.

Back at the farm stand, as I pack my basket with cane syrup, peanut brittle and fried okra chips, I overhear McAllister on the phone with Bhabesh Dutta, a vegetable disease specialist in the Department of Plant Pathologyat UGA. Together with Daniel, they troubleshoot the latest fungal disease affecting the farm. McAllister looks at me and explains that Georgia's long, warm growing season is ideal for crops but just as ideal for pests and pathogens.