Thu, 03 Apr 2025

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 Vending machines sell farm shop goods out of hours

Visitors can pay for milk and meats from suppliers on The Romney Marsh by tapping their bank cards.
A Kent farm shop has installed three vending machines that allow customers to purchase local produce outside of regular business hours. The machines, located at The Old Tractor Shed Farm Shop in Brookland, offer a range of products including milk, pickles, meats, fruit juices, and fresh vegetables. Customers can pay using their bank cards or smartphones. According to co-owner Deborah Ovenden, the vending machines enable the shop to extend its hours and cater to customers such as dog walkers and cyclists early in the morning and people coming home from work in the evening. The initiative is also a way for farmers to diversify their income, with many struggling financially. The machines are open daily between 7am and 9pm and the owners plan to convert one of them into a self-service cafe.
  >>