Futuristic Grocery Store in Minnesota is the First of its Kind in America

The Farmhouse Market is America's first unmanned grocery store. Paul and Kendra Rasmusson started the grocery store in New Prague with the simple goal of providing healthy, local local food at affordable prices. Knowing that healthy, local food is generally more expensive, they came up with a solution. Their store doesn't have a staff. It's completely automated which means they can pass those savings on to customers by offering lower prices.

So how does it work?

People purchase a membership for $99 the first year and $20 each year after and are given a keycards that allow them access to the store 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each new member gets individual training on the system but essentially it works the same way a 24hr gym does. Members swipe their card to gain access to the store then do their shopping and use the self checkout system to pay. Kendra even provides her cell phone number to all members and encourages them to call if they're confused or have any questions.

The couple says that this model might not work in all areas but is doing well in their community because residents are honest people.