At the recent South Beach Wine & Food Festival, a national event showcasing the talents of some of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary personalities, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) shared a one-of-a kind experience with event goers. Through USFRA’s new 360-degree video, which utilizes a virtual reality (VR)-style headset, booth visitors had a chance to experience life inside an Illinois pig farm – from the beaches of south Florida. This effort was a part of USFRA’s “SMART Farm” initiative aimed at bridging the gap between acceptance of everyday innovation in consumer’s lives with science and technology on today’s farms.

At its booth, USFRA gave away VR viewers to those who watched the 360˚ video, which highlights several of the many ways farmers are using technology to grow and raise food sustainably. Farmers were also be on hand to talk about modern food production on today’s SMART Farm.

“U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance was excited to be at South Beach Food & Wine Festival for the first time ever,” said Randy Krotz, USFRA CEO. “Because the event ties back to food, it’s a great venue for us to showcase the innovation and technology farmers and ranchers are using to produce food in a sustainable way, without compromise on cost, quality or taste.”

While at the 2017 Commodity Classic, Cindy caught up with Randy. Listen here has he shares more about their SMART Farm initiative and how they are sharing the message of tech on the farm to consumers everywhere. Interview with Randy Krotz, USFRA