Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Participation in Agritourism: A Logistic Regression Analysis on Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Marketing in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the USA

The aim of this study is to identify the factors influencing the likelihood of target groups participating in agricultural tourism activities. The study collected data from 1,246 participants living in New York, Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia through online surveys. The resulting dataset was analyzed using logistic regression. According to the analysis results, social classes with a higher probability of participating in agricultural tourism activities have been identified. It was found that middle-aged and younger people, those unfamiliar with agricultural activities, individuals involved in agriculture, those generally residing in cities, and those with higher income levels are more likely to participate in agricultural tourism. The study reveals that agricultural tourism participants are mostly high-income urban dwellers seeking experiential activities, demonstrating that agricultural tourism plays a significant role not only in fresh produce marketing but also as a vital social and economic diversification strategy for small farms.