Healthy meals packaged in recyclable jars can now be found in vending machines at the Howard County Circuit Courthouse in Ellicott City and the Ascend One building in Columbia. The healthier vending machine options are part of a larger effort from the county government to improve nutrition and foster healthy lifestyles for everyone in the community.

Farmers Fridge are smart vending machines that offer fresh wraps, salads, and snacks at over 1,000 locations across the U.S. The machines can be found in airports, offices, hospitals, other buildings, and now, the courthouse and Ascend One, a wellness center, in Howard County.

“The impact goes beyond just convenience, this initiative also supports our broader vision of making Howard County a healthier place to live, work, play, grow and thrive for all,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a ribbon-cutting event for the vending machines.

Founder Luke Saunders came up with the idea for the vending machines after working as a traveling salesman and noticing the lack of healthy, tasty on-the-go meal options, according to the Farmer’s Fridge website. Customers can choose from a variety of items such as chicken Caesar salad, Greek salad, pesto pasta bowl or pineapple coconut chia pudding. All items come in a jar. Sandwiches such as a chipotle turkey and Baja chicken wrap are available as well as protein snacks such as cheese cubes and grilled chicken.

The ingredients are sourced from “suppliers we know and trust,” bringing “fresh, whole, clean-label raw materials” into the Chicago-based facility for the assembly line to portion out and put together, according to the website. Food is delivered to the vending machines through a refrigerated van, and once the machine is restocked, it calculates the shelf life of each item. If an item passes its calculated shelf life before a driver is available to restock the machine, the item will be locked and cannot be purchased by a customer.

Other technologies involved with the fridges are algorithms to help understand what items are popular at different locations and to assess demand so food waste can be limited, the website said. There’s also an app that allows patrons to reserve a meal ahead of time, earn rewards, and pay without using a card at the machine in addition to other services.

The Farmer’s Fridge machines come as Howard County has worked through several initiatives to foster more access to nutritious fresh food for residents. The county funds the Roving Radish program, which offers farm-to-table meal kits, produce and meat items at an affordable rate for those areas in most need of quality food. Roving Radish also offers a mobile market that visits12 areas that were assessed to have the most need for food.

Recently, Roving Radish partnered with the Howard County Public School System to offer families free produce, according to a county news release. The school system is also working to improve its school meal options after a Healthier Choices Coalition survey found most community members sought fresher, healthier and tastier meals. In November, the district held a taste test for new menu items with locally sourced fruits and vegetables to try as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four adult Marylanders consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, Ball said, which is a problem Howard County is attempting to remedy. The county is seeking to build a healthy culture, and regardless of a resident’s work, status as a student or if someone’s simply visiting, the county wants individuals to have opportunities and resources to “live your healthiest lives possible,” Ball said.

“Together, we are showing that we can make a real difference by providing easy access to nutritious meals right at our fingertips,” Ball said.

The Howard County Circuit Courthouse is home to the Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County and the Howard County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Marcus Harris said members of the office use the vending machine daily.

“Nothing but positive feedback,” Harris said. “The items are fresh, and the price is right. So, what more can you ask for?”

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