You can’t scroll through social media lately without running into an ad for a subscription that sells imperfect produce. These grocery delivery companies claim you can help the planet — and your bank account — by receiving mostly organic fruits and vegetables that were rejected by retailers or picky shoppers. Sounds ideal, right?
To put those claims to the test, we compared two well-known ugly produce box subscriptions against a typical grocery delivery. What were we trying to learn?
We wanted to find out whether these organic produce services actually cut grocery bills and meaningfully reduce food waste. As you might expect, the results show there’s more to ugly produce delivery than meets the eye — and the top choice may surprise you.
How Do Ugly Produce Subscriptions Operate?
Services like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods bring fresh organic produce and pantry staples to your doorstep much like a grocery delivery. The main difference: you receive the “imperfect” items a retailer might reject for cosmetic reasons.
Both Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market are free to sign up for and let you skip deliveries or cancel any time. They pack weekly boxes with a tailored assortment of organic fruits and vegetables plus pantry goods, meat, seafood and snacks. Shoppers can swap items in their cart if they want.
You can choose a non-customized box or upgrade to a larger plan to fit your household. Both companies also allow single orders without committing to a subscription.
Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods Comparison
| Criteria | Misfits Market | Imperfect Foods |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery area | Lower 48 states | East/West Coast, urban areas across Midwest |
| Shopping window | 3 days | 4 days |
| Minimum order | $35 | None |
| Delivery fee | $6.99 | $4.99-$8.99, Orders $60+ free delivery |
| Customizable delivery | Yes | No (based on zip code) |
The two imperfect-produce subscriptions share many similarities but have some notable differences.
- Misfits Market is available across most of the contiguous U.S. and provides clear sourcing for its goods. It also offers wine and a points program for discounts and freebies. However, Misfits Market enforces a minimum order amount and can charge a higher delivery fee depending on location.
- Imperfect Foods delivers in a narrower region, focusing on both coasts and select Midwest cities. Emphasizing lowering the environmental footprint of grocery delivery, Imperfect Foods uses electric vans and schedules deliveries by zip code.
In terms of products, Imperfect Foods carries some private-label packaged goods and more wellness and household items than Misfits Market. There’s no minimum purchase, and shipping is free on Imperfect Foods orders over $60.
Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods are among the most popular, but other services aim to improve the food system too, such as Hungry Harvest.
Do Ugly Produce Boxes Actually Cut Food Waste?
Food waste is a major issue in the U.S. and beyond. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that 30% to 40% of the food supply is lost to waste at the farm, retail or consumer stages. Discarded food is the largest single category of landfill waste.
That’s the gap services like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods aim to fill. Misfits Market reports rescuing 5 million pounds of produce that might otherwise have been discarded.
Imperfect Foods says it has prevented about 166 million pounds of food from going to waste, estimating that each order saves roughly 6 to 8 pounds of food, 214 to 218 gallons of water and 4 to 6 pounds of CO₂.
Still, whether these companies truly eliminate food waste is debated. Critics note that much food loss occurs at the consumer level, and cosmetically imperfect produce can be repurposed into products like salsa, jam, juice or canned goods.
If your primary aim is to cut food waste, you might consider alternatives such as joining a community-supported agriculture program (CSA) or helping establish a neighborhood garden.
Can These Fresh Produce Subscriptions Reduce Grocery Costs?
One major selling point of ugly produce services is lower grocery bills, but that depends on a few factors. If you normally buy non-organic produce at the supermarket, you’ll likely get higher-quality organic items but not necessarily save money.
Let’s dig into whether embracing oddly shaped fruits and vegetables actually pays off financially.
Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods vs. Grocery Store: Price Comparison
Are ugly-produce subscriptions truly cheaper than buying organic produce at a grocery store? We did the calculations so you don’t have to.
We ordered the same produce from Imperfect Foods, Misfits Market and a nearby grocery store via Instacart. To compare prices, we aimed to select identical organic items in matching quantities, noting where exact matches weren’t available and prices reflected another variety.
Misfits Market advertises saving $25.17 per week with a subscription to their organic box. But as always, the numbers tell the tale.
Cost Comparison
| Item | Misfits Market | Imperfect Foods | Grocery store |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes (3 lbs.) | $3.69 (yellow) | $5.99 (red) | $4.29 (russet) |
| Spinach (5 oz.) | $3.39 (baby) | $3.99 (bunch) | $3.79 (baby) |
| Brussels sprouts (1 lbs.) | $4.29 | $3.99 | $5.39 |
| White mushrooms (8 oz.) | $3.39 | $4.49 | $2.69 |
| Eggplant | $2.29 | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Red onions (2 lbs.) | $3.89 | $3.99 | $4.69 |
| Tomatoes (10 oz.) | $3.29 (cherry) | $2.49 (roma) | $3.79 (grape) |
| Carrots (1 lbs.) | $1.69 (baby) | $1.99 (whole) | $1.59 |
| Canned Chickpeas (15 oz.) | $2.09 | $2.49 | $1.30 |
| Flour tortillas (6 count, small) | $3.79 | $3.99 | Not available |
| Grocery total | $31.80 | $35.40 | $29.52 |
| Shipping or delivery fee | $6.99 | $5.99 | $20.53 |
| Total | $38.79 | $41.39 | $50.05 |
Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods do offer savings on organic fruits and vegetables delivered to your home. But some of that apparent advantage comes from using a third-party grocery delivery service — Instacart — which raises grocery delivery costs here. If you shop in person or have free local delivery, the financial edge disappears.
We also encountered missing items. Both the Misfits Market and Instacart orders had items that didn’t arrive. Instacart promptly refunded the missing grocery; with Misfits Market it took several days after filing a customer service claim to receive reimbursement. So while Misfits Market showed a lower upfront price, we didn’t always receive every item we expected.
Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods vs. Grocery Store: Quality Comparison
Next, we compared the quality of organic produce from Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods against groceries delivered from a local store.
Although the grocery store sometimes charged less for organic produce, the quality and variety were inferior. You wouldn’t suspect those items had only traveled a few miles: they appeared wilted and less fresh.
The biggest quality gap among Misfits Market (left), Imperfect Foods (middle) and the grocery store (right) was with the Brussels sprouts. The grocery-store sprouts were small and limp compared with the hearty ones from the subscription boxes.
The pattern held across other produce. Misfits Market’s red onions (left) were generally larger and irregular with minor blemishes. Imperfect Foods (middle) provided smaller but fresher onions compared with the grocery store batch (right) that looked like they had been sitting a while.
The local supermarket didn’t carry organic eggplant, but both Misfits Market (right) and Imperfect Foods (left) delivered solid-quality eggplants. Misfits Market’s were more blemished and irregular in size, while Imperfect Foods’ looked comparable to what you might find at a premium grocer.
Which Ugly Produce Service Is Best?
Choosing the best imperfect-produce service comes down to what you value most. Below are the standout strengths of each option we tested.
Misfits Market: Best for Price and Reach
Misfits Market typically offers lower prices for organic produce without sacrificing freshness. Its boxes are available across most states, and you can even pick up wine to pair with your meals.
If you can accommodate a three-day shopping window and don’t need an enormous pantry selection, Misfits Market is a solid value choice.
Imperfect Foods: Best for Freshness and Variety
Imperfect Foods isn’t the cheapest, but it tends to deliver the nicest-looking seasonal produce. The additional expense often translates into better quality and a wider selection of pantry items.
Plus, Imperfect Foods offers free shipping on orders of $60 or more, which lets you load up a box with more value and reduce per-order environmental impact. The trade-off is limited delivery windows tied to your zip code, which may not suit everyone.
Grocery Store: Best for Conventional Produce and Shelf-Stable Goods
A traditional grocery store is still the best option if you buy non-organic produce or prefer to shop in person rather than pay for delivery. In-store shopping lets you pick the exact items you want at the price you want, and you can swap items on the spot for fresher choices.
That said, the outcome depends on how well your store stocks quality organic produce. Choosing convenience and the lowest price nearby doesn’t always guarantee fresh, appetizing produce.
Jordan Ellis is a senior staff writer covering personal finance and frugal living. As a reporter, Jordan has covered a broad range of subjects including money management, health, policy and technology over the past decade.
