For years, Leah Brumwell has tried to stuff healthy snacks among the cheesy, salty or frosted products in her vending machines at Inclimb Rock Gym in Bend.
"We would really like to give our members more of a choice as far as trying to eat health-consciously," said Brumwell, owner of the 10-year-old business on Arizona Street.
She tried in vain to find Central Oregon vendors who primarily distribute healthy items, such as water, juice and energy drinks, in place of soda or who offer dried fruits, granola bars and healthy snacks in place of licorice, buttery cookies and calorie-packed candies.
She recently found her healthful solution: San Diego-based YoNaturals Inc., the creator of YoZone and YoThirsty vending machines that stock natural and organic foods and drinks. The company recently landed a deal with a local distributor, which it chose not to identify, to offer its products at three Bend locations.
It will stock health-conscious snacking options that officials hope will soon emerge in break rooms and schools throughout the High Desert.
By the second week of March, YoZone machines are expected at Bend Police Department headquarters on Northeast 15th Street, Fuqua Homes on Murray Road and Inclimb Rock Gym.
Bend is one of the first markets outside California that will use the machines. Locals are jumping on a health-conscious bandwagon in the retail industry that is fast creating a lucrative market, YoNaturals officials say.
"We've watched the natural organic market grow in the last few years from almost $1 billion to almost $20 billion," said Mart Trotter, CEO of YoNaturals. "With the growth of Wild Oats, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, there is a whole plethora of retail chains offering healthy products."
Now, those healthy options are moving into the vending industry - and YoNaturals officials boast that they are the first to take that step in Central Oregon.
Brumwell's Rock Gym members are expected to gobble up the products, she said, even if the items cost more than traditional vending-machine fare. Prices will range from 85 cents to $4, according to YoNaturals representatives.
"We have really health-conscious members," Brumwell said. "We also have a lot of kid customers, who aren't exactly health-conscious, but there's no reason to not try to educate the kids, too."
Created last April, YoNaturals is a response to consumers' finally picking healthier food options amid rising obesity and diabetes rates, CEO Trotter said.
"The natural, organic industry is offering healthy options to help people eat better," Trotter said, "with products that aren't made up of a bunch of different chemicals."
A decade ago, these kinds of products were nonexistent in vending machines, Trotter said, with good reason: Consumers did not want them.
Now that health trends are on the rise, consumers' tastes are changing, too.
And Central Oregon - a region with natural beauty to inspire thousands of residents seeking active lifestyles - is the ideal market, according to Trotter.
"Bend is a very healthy area, so we're kind of preaching to the choir here," he said, adding that he hopes to soon have 20 to 30 of his vending machines in the Bend area.
