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含羞草研究社檛 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 含羞草研究社� they含羞草研究社檙e all in one piece.

Anyone who含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 renting.

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

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 actually hoping to sell these machines,含羞草研究社� Groenendijk added.

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

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 spacey,含羞草研究社� said one patron from Esquimalt, who stopped to buy eggs. 含羞草研究社淚 haven含羞草研究社檛 seen anything like that.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a different kind of vending machine,含羞草研究社� added Groenendijk. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the only one in North Cowichan.

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

He knows of only one other vending machine for eggs on the Island in Cobble Hill and it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 calling Legend Dairy Farms.

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

Since setting up the egg vending machine, 含羞草研究社渋t含羞草研究社檚 been working out really well for me so far,含羞草研究社� said Groenendijk.

He含羞草研究社檚 grateful to all the people who are supporting him as a young local farmer.

含羞草研究社淚 go every day and I put fresh eggs in every day,含羞草研究社� Groenendijk explained. 含羞草研究社淭hey can含羞草研究社檛 be any more fresh.

含羞草研究社淪o far all my eggs are selling. There含羞草研究社檚 never really any inventory left from the day before. They含羞草研究社檙e usually sold out.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚 only have two rows dedicated toward 18s,含羞草研究社� he indicated.

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

含羞草研究社淚 just say all my eggs are ungraded,含羞草研究社� said Groenendijk. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e any size, shape.含羞草研究社�

Figuring out how to operate the machine is a bit perplexing at first, especially for older people who aren含羞草研究社檛 tech savvy, but it含羞草研究社檚 actually quite simple.

It含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 nice, it keeps the eggs refrigerated as well,含羞草研究社� Groenendijk added.

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

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 a good option,含羞草研究社� Groenendijk said.

含羞草研究社淎s long as I don含羞草研究社檛 sell out, there含羞草研究社檚 eggs available 24/7 for the consumer. It含羞草研究社檚 not sun up and sun down.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚 would say they含羞草研究社檙e in their infancy,含羞草研究社� Groenendijk observed. 含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 not too many of these egg vending machines yet, but I do think it含羞草研究社檚 going to be catching on.含羞草研究社�

It含羞草研究社檚 all very exciting for him as he branches into his other new endeavours as well.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 about to start production on my dairy April 5,含羞草研究社� Groenendijk said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l be milking my own cows soon.含羞草研究社�

You can also expect to see him in the near future as part of the CTV series Farming For Love. It含羞草研究社檚 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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