US: Salad vending machines coming to L.A.
Saunders' machines dispense plastic jars full of mixed greens, sprouts, beans, homemade dressings and more. He thought of the idea for the machines while working in manufacturing, spending time in factories that processed cereal, granola bars, waffles and other items made for store shelves.
"I was travelling a lot for work and really couldn't find healthy food," he said. "I started thinking about ways to make it more accessible and how I could change the model of how healthy food gets distributed."
Two of his most popular salads include the Southwest salad, made with romaine lettuce, pumpkin seeds, cilantro, avocado, pico de gallo, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese and a dressing of avocado, lime juice and Greek yoghurt; and the Cheater salad made with honey-mustard dressing, hard-boiled eggs, grape tomatoes, romaine lettuce, sunflower seeds, corn, carrots, cucumber and turkey bacon.
The salads range in price from $5 to $8, and users can also add proteins with chicken, tofu and tuna. The machines also carry cauliflower fried rice, hummus with vegetables and other snacks.
Saunders said he is working to partner with a couple of companies to open his first Farmer's Fridge vending machines in California sometime in the first half of next year.
He said he isn't ready to reveal his Los Angeles locations just yet, but he did share that he's looking into partnering with local farmers when he makes it to Southern California.
Source: latimes.com