Have you ever wondered what type of benefits would be offered if healthy foods were available from a vending machine? While this may seem like something right out of “Back to the Future,” this is something you could be seeing in your area and very soon. Increased technology and the need to make good food accessible in food desert areas, has led to the development of this revolutionary product.
The latest Robotic Retail units will be stocked with foods such as eggs, milk, bread and healthy, prepared foods, such as salads that would otherwise only be found in a grocery store. The pricing in these units will not be astronomical either. In fact, they’ll be right on par with what you would pay at your local grocery store. This makes getting healthy foods much easier for people who don’t live near a grocery store, don’t have a car to get there, or simply live in food scarce area.
When you shop a Robotic Retail vending machine you can pay with cash, a credit card, or a debit card, as well as with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program card, or other food assistance cards.
These machines, which are being called the Oasis 24seven are approximately the size of a shipping container. They hold between 200 and 800 different items, weighing anywhere between one ounce to 10 pounds. When you shop with the machine you will make your selection on a computer screen, and then a robotic arm will deliver your selected items.
While there are similar machines currently on college campuses, the goal of the Oasis 24seven is to provide access to food for those who may not have it. And not just any food – but healthy, quality foods for those who may otherwise only have access to processed options.
In addition to benefiting those in areas where access to healthy foods may be low, these machines can help to reduce issues of theft. The inventory control in this machine is superior to even the highest quality grocery store security systems. Why? Because patrons do not have access to the actual groceries. Instead, they will enter their selections into the computer screen, and then have it delivered by the robotic arm and conveyor belt.
The first Oasis 24seven healthy food vending machine is going to be located in the Greater Des Moines area. However, if the trial run goes well, there is a good chance you will see one in your local area before you know it.
