Corn Vending Machine Catching On Fast

Corn Vending Machine Catching On Fast CROPS Miscellaneous Two years ago Vol 39 Issue 4 FARM SHOW featured the Corn Xpress corn vending machine designed to dispense feed anytime day or night Because of demand manufacturing costs have been reduced and the price of the machine has gone down “We started in Mississippi and now have 80 units in 13 states ” says co-owner Dan Barnes Customers include farmers who want to direct market their corn for two to three times what they can get at the elevator as well as convenience store owners co-ops and entrepreneurs “It brings tremendous value to a location Some convenience stores ran the numbers and business increased 30 percent during hunting season People stop to buy corn and end up shopping in the store as well ” The vending machines are set up in high traffic areas and intersections where customers – primarily hunters – can stop day or night to buy corn Barnes and his partner Chip Chisholm have made a few improvements on the U S -made vending machines since introducing them Instead of being welded they are bolted so parts can be put on a pallet and drop-shipped anywhere The machines take cash credit and debit cards They have a security light And they come in three sizes 176 260 and 340 bushels with four purchase options: 5 10 33 and 55 gallons Corn Xpress also offers an option for software to sell by weight “We dropped the price to around $30 000 per machine ” Barnes says noting that the cost includes set-up and training and a one-year warranty Units are bolted to new concrete or existing concrete parking lots and require 110-volt power access With a 150+ mph hurricane rating the polymer dome and steel frame units are engineered to withstand severe weather and there have been no problems so far Barnes says he conservatively estimates payback in about 3 years Some locations sell up to 20 000 lbs of corn a week “It fits anywhere there is hunting activity going on and also for feeding livestock on smaller farms ” Barnes says In addition to corn units can be set up to dispense other grains protein pellets and rock salt The company is currently working on developing a smaller unit to dispense feed at zoos and animal petting parks Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Corn Xpress Dan Barnes 3415 Pemberton Sq Blvd #820891 Vicksburg Miss 39182 ph 601 573-9784; www cornxpress com; dan@cornxpress com

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