Economy
Raising Livestock Instead of Crops
Although the general significance of agriculture continues to decline as the services sector and commercial operations become more important, there are still more than 1,300 dairy farms in the Appenzell region that deliver milk to around 65 Appenzell cheese dairies. The farmlands consist of natural pastures and range land that permit the raising of livestock and milk production.
The region’s traditional handcrafts, including the works of goldsmiths, coppersmiths, white-wood coopers, wood carvers, decorative painters, embroiderers, wood turners, wood engravers, saddlers and dulcimer makers, are still practiced and held in high esteem. Tourism has also become a major industry as ever more visitors from around the world discover the rich cultural and recreational opportunities offered by the region.
