Community Vending Machines

Picture a vending machine where you can rent a space inside, or the whole machine. If you can't afford to rent a building, this would give you a space to try and sell your goods with less risk.

For an example of this in action, vending machines are being used by many farmers so that they can make back more profit than what they get from the store store. This is because they can skip all the middleman fees, and instead sell directly to the customers.

“For every dollar we spend on food, only about 16 cents goes to the farmer. ” | Tracie McMillan

In many farming communities, you will come across a “honour code” stand, where farm goods are sold at the end of their property, and they are trusting you to leave the correct amount of money for what you take. The vending machines do the same thing, but in a more secure way for the farmers.

It is not just for farmers, though. In some cities, you can rent boxes within the machine. Machine rentals are also becoming more common, where you can rent a whole machine, so you might see a machine in a local park selling sports equipment, or perhaps one selling books or local art.

On top of being great for the sellers, vending machines can also bring products to neighborhoods that do not have stores in walking-distance.

"Food deserts can be described as geographic areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance." | Food Empowerment Project