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香蕉视频直播檛 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 香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檙e all in one piece.

Anyone who香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 renting.

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

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 actually hoping to sell these machines,香蕉视频直播� Groenendijk added.

It香蕉视频直播檚 certainly turned into a novel idea and captured plenty of attention since he installed the machine in early January.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 spacey,香蕉视频直播� said one patron from Esquimalt, who stopped to buy eggs. 香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen anything like that.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a different kind of vending machine,香蕉视频直播� added Groenendijk. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the only one in North Cowichan.

香蕉视频直播淟ots of people are quite amazed by it. I get lots of comments, people saying this is a great idea.香蕉视频直播�

He knows of only one other vending machine for eggs on the Island in Cobble Hill and it香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 calling Legend Dairy Farms.

He figures it香蕉视频直播檚 the perfect epic name for the site he香蕉视频直播檚 renting from a guy who used to dairy farm there.

Since setting up the egg vending machine, 香蕉视频直播渋t香蕉视频直播檚 been working out really well for me so far,香蕉视频直播� said Groenendijk.

He香蕉视频直播檚 grateful to all the people who are supporting him as a young local farmer.

香蕉视频直播淚 go every day and I put fresh eggs in every day,香蕉视频直播� Groenendijk explained. 香蕉视频直播淭hey can香蕉视频直播檛 be any more fresh.

香蕉视频直播淪o far all my eggs are selling. There香蕉视频直播檚 never really any inventory left from the day before. They香蕉视频直播檙e usually sold out.香蕉视频直播�

The machine can hold up to 50 cartons depending how it香蕉视频直播檚 configured. Groenendijk has the normal dozen egg cartons, but also has 18s.

香蕉视频直播淚 only have two rows dedicated toward 18s,香蕉视频直播� he indicated.

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

香蕉视频直播淚 just say all my eggs are ungraded,香蕉视频直播� said Groenendijk. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e any size, shape.香蕉视频直播�

Figuring out how to operate the machine is a bit perplexing at first, especially for older people who aren香蕉视频直播檛 tech savvy, but it香蕉视频直播檚 actually quite simple.

It香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 nice, it keeps the eggs refrigerated as well,香蕉视频直播� Groenendijk added.

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

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a good option,香蕉视频直播� Groenendijk said.

香蕉视频直播淎s long as I don香蕉视频直播檛 sell out, there香蕉视频直播檚 eggs available 24/7 for the consumer. It香蕉视频直播檚 not sun up and sun down.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淚 would say they香蕉视频直播檙e in their infancy,香蕉视频直播� Groenendijk observed. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 not too many of these egg vending machines yet, but I do think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be catching on.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 all very exciting for him as he branches into his other new endeavours as well.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 about to start production on my dairy April 5,香蕉视频直播� Groenendijk said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l be milking my own cows soon.香蕉视频直播�

You can also expect to see him in the near future as part of the CTV series Farming For Love. It香蕉视频直播檚 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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