SUNY Old Westbury added a reimagined vending machine to the campus this semester. Rather than dispensing candy, snacks, and soda, this machine goes against the expected norm by providing healthier and more substantial meal options.
The machine, called the Farmer’s Fridge, is “temperature-controlled, stocked with a wide variety of meals and snacks, and will not vend food that isn’t fresh,” according to the company’s website. The company launched when the founder noticed a lack of healthy food that tasted good while traveling as a salesman. The company wrote on its website that its goal “is to make fruits and vegetables accessible and approachable for everyone.”
The machine is simple to use. When you approach it, you will see the variety of meal options and a giant digital touchscreen. Once you tap the green “Tap to Start” bar, you can discover what meal options are available that day and even look at its nutritional information. To pay, you can use credit, debit, and campus cards, making it simple.
The fridge is decorated with writing and images about its contents. It calls its products “stress relief in a jar.” Its images also reveal the basic process of how the food in the fridge is produced, saying, “Grown by Mother Nature,” “Handcrafted in our kitchen,” and “Delivered fresh in the morning.” The contents of the food’s packaging are 100% recyclable, according to the fridge, including its cutlery, bags, bowls, and jars.
The Farmer’s Fridge was added to OW’s New Academic Building (NAB) to increase options for meals on campus that are easily accessible. Suzette Foster, OW’s Assistant Vice President for Business Operations, explained that the former Executive Director of the Auxiliary Service Corporation, Ms. Carol Kaunitz, wanted “to provide students, faculty, and staff with an additional food option within the New Academic Building.” She continued, “We realize that food choice is limited in that building and believe that Farmer’s Fridge would be a welcomed addition.” Currently, the only other dining in the NAB is Paper Lantern. Other on-campus dining options include the Atrium Cafe, the Food Hall, the Market Old Westbury, Halal Shack, and Ghost Kitchen.
The Farmer’s Fridge offers salads, breakfast, bowls, sandwiches, snacks, and protein. Consumers can buy a variety of meals including, but not limited to, Berries and Granola Greek Yogurt, a Thai Noodle Bowl, and a Baja Chicken Wrap. The company’s website has the option to view the meal options available each day for the SUNY Old Westbury location.
Healthy and accessible meal options, such as those in the Farmer’s Fridge, are essential especially for college students. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, it was revealed that “almost all participants believed that they did not have enough time to prepare healthy meals.” One student in the study said, “‘I don’t have time to be going to the grocery store to just get fruit and healthy things.’” Students also skipped meals because of time limitations.
The Farmer’s Fridge provides a solution to this issue. “I think to have this is really accessible. And I feel like [to] our campus, our students, accessibility is so important to them whether it’s healthcare [or] whether it’s meals,” said Registered Nurse and EAP Coordinator at SUNY Old Westbury, Adele Gutierrez. She continued, “if we can make it just a little bit easier to get something that’s a little healthier rather than depending on a bag of chips to fill you up or soda, things of that nature, I think it’s a really good thing that we have provided for the students here.”
Gutierrez also noted that having this food resource on campus can also make students feel better. She explained, “I think for college-age students and the goal of getting those nutrients in, the notion is, ‘We feel good physically. We’re going to do better in the classroom. We’re going to think better.’”
People on campus couldn’t be more enthusiastic. “[I] love it, love it,” said Ellen MacConnoran, “it’s the best invention they ever had.” The convenience of the machine allows for anyone, either faculty or student, to get a quick lunch. Whether it’s on the way to a class, or during a lunch break, Farmer’s Fridge is sure to provide a healthy, and inexpensive meal.
