A UNIQUE new vending machine installed on a Herefordshire farm is giving people access to fresh farm produce – including eggs and soft fruit – for 24-hour-a-day.

The venture was launched early last month at Instone Court, Munderfield, near Bromyard, by the Parker family and has resulted in strong trade in its first month, increasing farm gate sales exponentially.

Simon Parker who farms more than 250 acres of apples, hops, laying hens and grassland with his wife Elaine and father Barry, says the vending machine has resulted in a 'significant lift' in direct sales and enabled the family to offer a wider range of produce than before.

He said: "We have been selling eggs and apples from the farm for a number of years, but this had previously been done from the farmhouse which is more than 500m from the main road.

"Siting the vending machine at the roadside means passing trade has increased dramatically as people are more inclined to stop at the roadside rather than having to come down the farm drive.

"On top of that the vending machine offers both chilled and ambient temperature storage for produce, which has meant we can increase the range of produce we are selling. The first month has been highly successful, with a wide range of produce on offer, including eggs, strawberries, cherries, loganberries, raspberries, gooseberries and cordials."

Although not all produce is from the family's own farm, it is all sourced within a small radius of it and there are further plans for more seasonal crops, including cobnuts and a wide range of apples, later in the year.

All the eggs are straight from the hens and the Parkers work closely with the fruit growers to ensure they are offering the freshest possible produce at all times.

Mr Parker added: "Additionally, giving shoppers 24 hour access means they can stop in at any time of day and pick up whatever they need. The vending machine currently takes cash payments, including notes, giving change as appropriate, with card payments being introduced later in the year too."

The farm, located on the B4214 between Bishops Frome and Bromyard, is home to more than 80 acres of hops, 55 acres of cider fruit, eight acres of Bramleys, 11 acres of cobnuts as well as 24,000 laying hens and a flock of 110 ewes, including 30 pedigree Ryelands.