Harvest Idaho ~ One Bite at a Time Culinary Tourism Initiative Harvest Idaho ~ One Bite at a Time

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Who? Idaho department of Commerce- Division of Tourism Initiative that spotlights the growing culinary industry.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time What & Where? A statewide culinary Tourism Initiative to increase tourism in the shoulder season and coincide with Idaho’s harvest season – Sept – Nov. In short, heads in beds and butts in restaurant seats.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time WHY? Idaho produces a diverse array of foods. The thriving agriculture sector yields over 140 different crops with flourishing cattle and dairy industry and an expanding wine and micro–brew industry.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time WHY? 17% of American leisure travelers have engaged in culinary or wine-related activities within the past 3 years On Average, culinary tourists spend $1,194 per trip with over 1/3 of their budget going towards food-related activities. The Culinary Tourist is more likely to take local foods and wines back home with them to share with their family and friends. This presents a secondary opportunity for destinations to spread the word about their unique offerings.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time WHY? Culinary Tourist profile is active, more affluent and better educated than non-culinary travelers and are responsive to travel packages that focus on the uniqueness of the destination and the local food and beverage environment and make travel decisions based on a desire for a culinary experience .

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time HOW? Through creating foodie experiences that challenge and intrigue our 5 senses: tasting, smelling, seeing touching, and hearing. Culinary Tourists are attracted to activities such as: cooking classes, dining out for a unique memorable experience, visiting farmer’s markets, gourmet food shopping, attending food festivals, touring wineries and breweries, driving a wine trail and attending a wine festival.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time HOW? Farm to Fork

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time How? Inviting travel writers and bloggers an opportunity to share in our experience

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Collaborated with the Idaho Wine Commission and Idaho Department of Agriculture to design a Food and Wine Media tour, Journalists representing: Wine Press NW, Savor This, The Globetrotters, Around the World Radio, China Times, Liberty Times, Next Media and The Inlander; visited communities of Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Moscow. In 2011 Taiwanese delegation that experienced our Harvest season and helped them discover: A. Happy Wagu cows B. Tasty cannolis in Wallace C. Huckleberry Vodka D. Peaches that were $6.00 a box & vs. $3.00 per peach in Taiwan

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Traveler writers from CA

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time September – International Food Wine Travel Writers Assn.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Workplan 1: Added the Culinary field option to package and event database on updateidaho.com which populates visitidaho.org 2: Invited our partners to add their culinary events and packages

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Workplan 3. Aggregated the culinary activities into a 10 week blog that included: events, recipes, culinary packages, harvest festivals, Farmers markets, and wine tastings.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Workplan 4. Work with the Department of Ag, Idaho Preferred; Idaho Wine Commission to promote ongoing events.

Harvest Idaho~ One Bite at a Time Workplan Finally - the Secret sauce – that is you. Let’s collaborate to capture the Culinary tourist’s attention and bring them to experience Idaho in 2012.

Thank you for supporting Culinary Tourism in Idaho. Diane Norton Idaho Tourism Idaho Department of Commerce 208 334-2650, ext. 2149 diane.norton@tourism.idaho.gov Workplan Finally - the Secret sauce – that is you. Let’s collaborate to capture the Culinary tourist’s attention and bring them to experience Idaho in 2012.