Food waste probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the major environmental problems we face here in the United States - but it should be.
One major culprit for food waste are farms and grocery stores. Over 20% of produce grown in America never make it to grocery stores because they aren't aesthetically pleasing. This produce is perfectly nutritious and valuable as the fruits and vegetables, but the only difference is that they are little misshapen. That's where Imperfect Produce comes in; they're a company is determined to put an end to this kind of food waste by repurposing the "ugly" food farmers and grocery stores don't want. They take the leftover produce, pack it into a subscription box, and deliver it to your door step for 30% less than what you would get at the grocery store.
When signing up for Imperfect Produce, there are four different boxes you can choose from:
You can also customize your box by picking and choosing specific foods you want in your box, what you could do without, and adding additional quantities.
The cost of each box depends on the quantity of food you order. Since Imperfect Produce is trying to eliminate food waste (obviously), each food item is priced individually so you only pay for what you need and no produce goes unused. There are also four tiers of sizes (small through extra large) that are priced according to whether the produce is organic or conventional. On top of the price for each individual box, there is a flat fee of $4.99 for each delivery.
Though Imperfect Produce is growing quite rapidly, they are not quite available nationwide yet. Here's where they currently deliver:
According to Imperfect Produce's Facebook page, the company has mostly glowing reviews and an average of 4.6/5 stars. Here's what their customers are saying:
Though most customers had positive things to say about Imperfect Produce, there were a few complaints, like foods coming in bruised or wilted and the costs being too much. Even though it seems like the "ugly" food subscription boxes work out for most, be mindful that perishable items (no matter where they come from) might not always be delivered in the condition that you envision.
If you like getting your food delivered to your home, you don't care if your carrots are a little crooked, and you want to help combat food waste, Imperfect Produce is definitely the food subscription box for you.