As birds sang overhead, Hayley Crabb set two blankets down on the ground overlooking the vibrant green trees and fields that make up Wilson’s Orchard. Her 2-year-old daughter, Jean Slezak, munched on some fresh berries they’d just picked from the fields below as they waited for their pizza to be ready.
“Good raspberries, huh?” Crabb smiled at her daughter, who couldn’t keep her hands off the carton of plump red berries they’d collected.
Since moving to Iowa City last summer, Crabb said she and her entourage have come to Wilson’s a few times a month, mostly on Friday family evenings. The kids love the free tractor rides and the berry-picking, and Crabb appreciates music nights or other family-friendly events.
Wilson’s is a place where they can stimulate their energetic toddlers, reduce screentime and enjoy the outdoors with a refreshing beverage. Crabb’s drink of choice on a recent Friday was a sparkling cider.
“I think businesses like Wilson's that add these extra touches like the free tractor rides, live music, the pizza oven, it's just another compelling reason to come out here,” Crabb said. “It's clear they put a lot of effort into this space and also try to make it affordable and accessible to people.”
Although Iowa is a national and global leader in agriculture, interest still is growing in fully harnessing the potential of these agritourism businesses to draw residents and visitors like Crabb and her family out to play and spend their spare cash.
Source: thegazette.com
Photo Credit: pixabay-klawson
Categories: Iowa, Business