Automated food kiosk serves organic food in Chicago

By Antonio Pasolini

The growing appetite for healthier snacks and on-the-go food has opened up a new market catering for the environmentally aware. Recently launched in the Chicago area, Farmer’s Fridge health food kiosks is the brainchild of Luke Sanders, who has a background in manufacturing. The menu includes freshly made salads and snacks for both omnivores and vegans. The automated kiosks combine rustic looks with a digital interface.

They are wrapped in reclaimed barn wood and interaction takes place through touch-screen technology. It also features bar code scanners, a credit card terminal and email receipts. The machines contain an on-site recycling bin for empty plastic salad containers. No food goes waste as unsold salads are donated to a local food pantry. The contents of the fridge are prepared daily in a kitchen in Chicago and delivered by 10 am to each kiosk.

Using organic ingredients from local farms whenever possible and in compliance with Environmental Working Group guidelines for using organic ingredients, the menu includes a mix of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, plant and animal protein to meet a range of needs and tastes.

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