Imperfect Foods Review 2022: Is Imperfect Foods Worth It?
IMPERFECT FOODS REVIEW 2022: IS IMPERFECT FOODS WORTH IT?
Imperfect Foods may deliver to a zip code near you (Use this CODE and receive 20% off your first order). When I first researched Imperfect Foods back in 2018, I ordered a produce box and had it delivered to a friend’s apartment in Oakland; they had not yet offered their delivery service to the Central Valley of California.
In January 2021, the San Francisco-based company received a $95M Series D growth investment after receiving their Series C investment eight months prior, and as a result, they’ve had the resources to expand their offerings and geographic delivery reach to the West South Central region, Midwest, Northeast and all along the West Coast.
ABOUT IMPERFECT FOODS
Imperfect Food’s mission is to eliminate food waste and build a better food system for everyone.
Cilantro, celery, and kale from a recent Imperfect Foods order.
The online grocer sells cosmetically challenged (‘imperfect’) and surplus produce that couldn’t sell into grocery stores. In 2020, they expanded their categories to include shelf-stable goods, meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, and household items.
IMPERFECT FOODS REVIEW: ORGANIC PRODUCE DELIVERY
Each week, Imperfect Foods gives a 48-hour shopping window to make changes to your order. They send a reminder email to mark when this window opens and closes.
Choose a username and password for your Imperfect Foods log in and the rest is simple. The home screen is where you can access everything: from the Imperfect Foods sign in to grocery shopping to pausing or cancelling future orders.
A head of Imperfect Food’s romanesco, Roman cauliflower, chopped and ready to be pan-roasted.
Most of the time I am very satisfied with the quality and size of the produce I receive in my order. There are always a few unique items to choose from, for example romanesco and maitake mushrooms, plus many staples (apples, oranges, berries, celery, kale, lettuce) and seasonal selections (stone fruit, summer squash).
Imperfect Foods delivers to specific zip codes on certain days of the week so you cannot change on which day you receive your groceries. For example, mine come on Friday’s, and that is fixed. They use their own delivery vans and hand-deliver boxes of food to the designated address and send a text when nearby for easy tracking.
The website offers both organic and conventional produce to choose from, based on availability.
IMPERFECT FOODS: SUSTAINABLE GROCERY ITEMS
Imperfect Foods offers a variety of items. They’ve ventured into producing their own shelf-stable goods including granola, spices, cookies, lentils, and oatmeal. Some products have a sustainable component to them (for example, oat milk cookies are made using upcycled oats). Other items do not; they are sold on the site because the Imperfect Foods price offered is fair.
Here’s a look at some of the grocery items made by Imperfect Foods:
IMPERFECT FOODS: WEBSITE AND COST
The interface of Imperfect Foods is easy to maneuver. Create an account, enter the delivery zip code, and prior to the first delivery, an email will be sent to signal it is time to curate your delivery.
Imperfect Foods allows unlimited removals and additions to your order before the cut-off window. There is a $4.99 delivery fee for orders under $60. Select the ‘recurring’ option next to a product and automatically receive them on a weekly basis, pending availability.
The cost per pound is on par with the produce available at the average grocery store. I’ve been ordering organic so the volume is always less than conventional, but this is also expected at a brick and mortar grocer.
CONCLUSION
Imperfect Foods’ mission to eliminate food waste and build a better food system for everyone is something I can stand behind. They deliver organic (and conventional) produce, shelf-stable goods, animal proteins, and dairy. They’ve created a line of food items under their own brand name, some have a sustainable component, and others are sold at a competitive price.
Imperfect Foods uses its own vehicles for door-to-door delivery and alerts the customer via text when drop-off is near. The website interface is clean and easy to use, and the company offers a 48-hour window to make any changes to your weekly order. Orders over $60 receive free shipping, otherwise, a $4.99 delivery fee is added to every order. Feel free to cancel or pause the delivery as you wish. There is a wide selection of goods to purchase each week however sometimes certain items are sold out or unavailable.
Imperfect Foods is a convenient way to sustainably shop for a variety of fresh produce and grocery items; its pricing is on par with what the average grocery store offers. In 2021, Imperfect Foods became a Certified B Corporation. Read more about the B Corp Certification and the food industry in our article.
Click here to redeem 20% off your first order.
Wishing you well during these challenging times,
Jenna
P.S. I am not affiliated with the Imperfect Foods business. I am a third-party blog. If you have a question about your subscription or a specific order, you can contact the customer care team by visiting the Contact Us section of their website (https://www.imperfectfoods.com/contact) and clicking on "Contact Customer Care"
Otherwise, you can log on to your Imperfect Foods online account and click the "support" button in the lower right corner of your screen. Someone will respond if they are available at that time. Thank you for stopping by A Healthy Shelf!
