This is not your typical story about eggs before Easter.

This is a story about a young farmer, Doug Groenendijk, who got cracking on a unique idea to deliver his product to consumers with an egg vending machine that doesn害羞草研究所檛 pose the same problems as regular roadside stands. The part about getting cracking, though, has nothing to do with the state of the eggs when they come out of the vending machine 害羞草研究所� they害羞草研究所檙e all in one piece.

Anyone who害羞草研究所檚 recently driven between Crofton and Chemainus on rural Vancouver Island would have noticed the vending machine and probably been surprised to find it contains eggs. Groenendijk sells farm fresh eggs from the machine on the farm he害羞草研究所檚 renting.

He also has plans in the works to get more chickens and set up a website for the vending machine.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 actually hoping to sell these machines,害羞草研究所� Groenendijk added.

It害羞草研究所檚 certainly turned into a novel idea and captured plenty of attention since he installed the machine in early January.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 spacey,害羞草研究所� said one patron from Esquimalt, who stopped to buy eggs. 害羞草研究所淚 haven害羞草研究所檛 seen anything like that.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a different kind of vending machine,害羞草研究所� added Groenendijk. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the only one in North Cowichan.

害羞草研究所淟ots of people are quite amazed by it. I get lots of comments, people saying this is a great idea.害羞草研究所�

He knows of only one other vending machine for eggs on the Island in Cobble Hill and it害羞草研究所檚 a slightly different model.

Groenendijk grew up on the family Greendyke Farm operation on Mount Sicker Road before recently starting up his own mainly dairy farming operation that he害羞草研究所檚 calling Legend Dairy Farms.

He figures it害羞草研究所檚 the perfect epic name for the site he害羞草研究所檚 renting from a guy who used to dairy farm there.

Since setting up the egg vending machine, 害羞草研究所渋t害羞草研究所檚 been working out really well for me so far,害羞草研究所� said Groenendijk.

He害羞草研究所檚 grateful to all the people who are supporting him as a young local farmer.

害羞草研究所淚 go every day and I put fresh eggs in every day,害羞草研究所� Groenendijk explained. 害羞草研究所淭hey can害羞草研究所檛 be any more fresh.

害羞草研究所淪o far all my eggs are selling. There害羞草研究所檚 never really any inventory left from the day before. They害羞草研究所檙e usually sold out.害羞草研究所�

The machine can hold up to 50 cartons depending how it害羞草研究所檚 configured. Groenendijk has the normal dozen egg cartons, but also has 18s.

害羞草研究所淚 only have two rows dedicated toward 18s,害羞草研究所� he indicated.

All are brown eggs that currently sell for $6 a dozen and $9 for 18s.

害羞草研究所淚 just say all my eggs are ungraded,害羞草研究所� said Groenendijk. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e any size, shape.害羞草研究所�

Figuring out how to operate the machine is a bit perplexing at first, especially for older people who aren害羞草研究所檛 tech savvy, but it害羞草研究所檚 actually quite simple.

It害羞草研究所檚 all operated by a bank card. By not using cash, it deters thieves.

The card must be tapped first for a pre-authorization, then you look in the vending machine for the product you want and type in the number of the selection. You tap your card again at the end to finalize the transaction.

The machine works with a little elevator to safely bring the eggs down to the pick-up spot in a gentle process that ensures none get cracked.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 nice, it keeps the eggs refrigerated as well,害羞草研究所� Groenendijk added.

He actually did considerable research before settling on this particular type of machine.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 a good option,害羞草研究所� Groenendijk said.

害羞草研究所淎s long as I don害羞草研究所檛 sell out, there害羞草研究所檚 eggs available 24/7 for the consumer. It害羞草研究所檚 not sun up and sun down.害羞草研究所�

Egg vending machines that he discovered on the Lower Mainland are a different style with a locker system.

害羞草研究所淚 would say they害羞草研究所檙e in their infancy,害羞草研究所� Groenendijk observed. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 not too many of these egg vending machines yet, but I do think it害羞草研究所檚 going to be catching on.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 all very exciting for him as he branches into his other new endeavours as well.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 about to start production on my dairy April 5,害羞草研究所� Groenendijk said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be milking my own cows soon.害羞草研究所�

You can also expect to see him in the near future as part of the CTV series Farming For Love. It害羞草研究所檚 a reality series based on finding love matches for farmers and Groenendijk was selected for the show.

Filming has already been done at the Greendyke farm and details about broadcast dates in the late spring should be released soon.

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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