Huerto Ribera, established in 2019 near Carcaixent, Valencia, started as an orange delivery service and expanded into agrotourism. Despite challenges in the citrus industry, they offer lodging, tasting, and recreational activities, aiming to promote local culture, tradition, and sustainability.
Privately owned
2019
Carcaixent, Valencia, Spain
Huerto Ribera collaborates with local institutions for tourist routes, enhancing the visitor experience. The farm boasts historical facilities that provide insight into the region’s orange cultivation heritage.
Huerto Ribera provides lodging, catering, and tasting experiences, managed by a dedicated team, including maintenance staff, gardeners, and monitors. They also collaborate with local institutions for tourist routes, enhancing the overall visitor experience and promoting community engagement.
The experience of offering agrotourism services at Huerto Ribera has been overwhelmingly positive, fostering meaningful connections with visitors and allowing for the promotion of local culture and tradition. However, challenges include difficulties in selling oranges and a shortage of field personnel, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to sustain the business in a competitive market.
To address these challenges, Huerto Ribera plans to introduce new workshops, such as vermouth or mosaic workshops, to diversify revenue streams and attract a broader audience. Additionally, they are exploring the possibility of offering show cooking and event facilities, with potential plans for expanding into a rural hotel. These innovations aim to further promote local culture and sustainability while ensuring the long-term viability of the business.
Enthusiasm, adaptability, and continuous innovation are crucial for success in the agrotourism industry. Aspiring entrepreneurs should focus on creating a unique and memorable experience for visitors, leveraging the distinctive features of their location and showcasing the region’s cultural heritage. Additionally, maintaining open communication with customers and responding to feedback is essential for building lasting relationships and fostering loyalty.
Huerto Ribera emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing market dynamics and continually innovating to stay relevant in a competitive landscape. Key skills for agrotourism entrepreneurs include strong communication and interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of local culture and tradition, and a willingness to embrace new technologies and trends. Additionally, a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to sustainability are essential for long-term success in the industry.
For Huerto Ribera, running a family business is not just a livelihood but a labor of love, allowing them to preserve their past while embracing a hopeful future. They are committed to maintaining the legacy of their farm and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both the local community and the environment.
The Farms’ Charm project aims to develop learning materials to educate small and medium-sized farmers in possible ways of starting their agritourism activities which will help them not only diversify their incomes but also promote their farm products directly to consumers. All that while reviving the rural areas and local communities and promoting a sustainable way of tourism which is in line with the tendencies of slowing down and staying longer at one area.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The content of this website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
