North Yorkshire farm installs £20,000 meat vending machine

The machine is stocked with lamb and beef from the farm as well as other local produce

A vending machine stocked with cuts of meat has been installed in a former milking parlour in North Yorkshire.

Mark and Louise Day, of New Sheepfold Farm at Ingleby Greenhow, spent £20,000 on the new machine, in a move they hope will help sustain the farm.

The couple said they were always looking for new ways to diversify.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) added that the machines were a "great tool" to help strengthen relationships between farmers and the public.

Mrs Day said: "A lot of milk vending machines are popping up everywhere and I think people want something direct from the farm.

"I think to know that you are coming to a farm, you can see the animals, you can see how well they are looked after, and it's brilliant that you can come and get the meat and take it away and say we know where that's come from."

Louise Day said users were keen to buy direct from farms

As part of their efforts to maintain the farm the couple previously invested more than £250,000 installing shepherd huts for holidaymakers.

"It means that we've got another income stream, we're not as reliant on the weather or lamb prices or what's happening with the beef industry," Mrs Day said.

"So, we've got something else that can help support what we are doing on the farm."

NFU President Minette Batters said: "Farm vending machines can be a great tool for a farm business, both for diversification and to help strengthen the relationship between farmers and the public.

"Shoppers can support their local farms and see where their food comes from, while farmers are able to provide their high-quality and nutritious food direct to their local community."