Dirty exterior. Overbought. Oddly shaped.
Those are a few reasons grocery stores turn away fruit and vegetable shipments, though they probably don’t literally wrinkle their noses while scanning pallets and say, “Nope — too oddly shaped.”
Still, fruits and vegetables are often assessed by how they look on the outside.
At least25% percent of the food grown in the U.S. is wasted; fresh produce frequently gets discarded because of surface scars or surplus harvests.
One startup is working to rescue that rejected produce and put it to good use in neighborhoods around Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.
How Hungry Harvest Operates
Baltimore-based Hungry Harvest salvages produce that would otherwise be trashed when shipments fail to meet cosmetic standards or retailers reject them.
The rescued produce is packed into boxes tailored to customers, from a $15-per-week “mini harvest” to a $55-per-week “super organic harvest.” Between those are choices for fruit fans and veggie lovers, and there’s even an “office harvest” box filled with snack-ready fruit.
For every order placed, Hungry Harvest donates 1 to 2 pounds of produce to partner organizations that ensure it reaches people who have limited access to fresh food.
Can You Embrace This “Ugly” Fresh Produce?
As our Washington, D.C. correspondent for most of the year, I signed up for a $15 mini harvest. Hungry Harvest delivers Friday through Monday, with trucks servicing specific neighborhoods at the same times weekly.
On Friday I got an email outlining what would arrive Sunday morning:
3 Golden Delicious apples
3 yellow potatoes
1 container of cabernet tomatoes
1 head of broccoli
1 navel orange
3 kiwis
1 head of romaine lettuce
2 yellow squashes
1 red onion
1 container of blackberries
I could also see why the original buyer had declined the shipment. Either excess supply or minor skin blemishes stopped most of the items in my mid-October box from being accepted.
My favorite? The green peppers, which includedthis anecdote: “Some of the packaging was jostled by a forklift or some other vehicle and it broke some of the cases that the produce was packed into. So the original retail outlet rejected the entire batch. Nothing wrong with the produce, it’s just another day in this crazy world.”
When I unpacked the box, there was nothing about the produce that looked “wrong.” The broccoli was crisp, the blackberries juicy, the red onion and potatoes small but perfectly usable. Nothing seemed deserving of rejection.
“Everything looks just like I’d buy at the grocery store or the farmers market,” I told curious colleagues.
“No bumps, no bruises, no odd marks. I’m about to make the best salad ever tonight.”
But How Does It Taste?
Regarding flavor, this modest box packed a satisfying punch. I shared it with my two roommates to avoid waste. The kiwis were tangy, the blackberries sweetened plain Greek yogurt, and yes — I created that amazing salad.
And because much of what arrived was ready-to-eat, I didn’t fret about using everything — unlike friends who eagerly join farm-share programs only to be swamped by the volume and unfamiliar items.
The Vegetable Takeaway
There’s no way I could have bought this much fresh produce in the city for only $15. And while many farm-share models require pickup and offer limited size options (large or larger), Hungry Harvest seems ideal for small households — especially those without cars.
The only downside: a restricted delivery footprint. The company said it plans to widen its mid-Atlantic delivery zone (get ready, New Jersey!) before expanding further — meaning readers in states like Florida might wait longer.
Your Turn: How do you source fruits and vegetables?
Also, if you want seasonal produce guides and tips, check out produce peak season march for more helpful info.
