Imperfect Foods Review 2024: Your Guide to Sustainable, Affordable Grocery Delivery

Are you considering trying Imperfect Foods grocery delivery service? This comprehensive review provides an honest look at how the service works, what it costs, and the variety of products available. You’ll also find an unboxing video demonstrating their packaging and tips on how to save on your first order. Discover if this sustainable grocery delivery option is the right fit for your household!

Some links in this article are affiliate links. Should you click on them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, my opinions remain unbiased and genuine.

**Use this coupon code to save on your first order and kickstart your sustainable grocery journey!**

Have you heard of Imperfect Foods? For many years, this innovative service has been making waves in the grocery delivery world, initially known as Imperfect Produce. Their mission? To combat food waste by rescuing delicious, high-quality groceries that might otherwise go to waste due to aesthetic imperfections, surplus, or short-dated inventory.

My first encounter with them was when they were still “Imperfect Produce,” primarily delivering only fruits and vegetables that were considered “imperfect” – perhaps oddly shaped, discolored, or slightly oversized/undersized – yet perfectly good for consumption. At that time, their availability was limited to select larger metropolitan areas, and the boxes were often a surprise mix of whatever produce they had rescued. While trying new ingredients was sometimes an adventure, it often meant receiving items my family wouldn’t consume, leading to our own form of food waste.

However, Imperfect Foods has significantly evolved. They’ve grown into a comprehensive grocery delivery subscription box service, now offering much more than just produce, and have expanded their reach to a vast number of new locations. This expansion, coupled with a crucial new feature, truly piqued my interest.

The game-changer for me was discovering that the boxes are now fully customizable. This marked a significant improvement from the “surprise box” model. No longer would I receive items that might go uneaten; instead, I could handpick every ingredient. This shift meant I could finally align the service with my family’s dietary preferences and meal planning, ensuring that every item delivered would be put to good use. This customizable approach empowers customers to take control of their groceries, making the service far more practical and appealing for a broader audience committed to reducing food waste at home.

With renewed enthusiasm, I decided to explore their offerings further. I promptly grabbed a coupon referral link and navigated to their website. Before placing an order, I spent some time reviewing their comprehensive FAQ section to address a few lingering questions.

The most pressing question, of course, was whether they delivered to my specific area. To my delight, I found that they did! Imperfect Foods now serves customers in 43 states across the U.S., which is a testament to their impressive growth and commitment to making sustainable groceries accessible. (It’s worth noting that some areas, particularly those serviced by FedEx, might have a minimum order requirement for each box.)

Beyond delivery logistics, the website provided clear answers on various other aspects of their service. I learned about the intuitive process for selecting and customizing the food in my box, details about their eco-friendly delivery methods, transparent pricing structures, and flexible delivery options. What truly resonated with me, however, was their overarching mission. I was particularly pleased to read about their dedication to eliminating food waste and their vision for building a more equitable and sustainable food system for everyone. Furthermore, their commitment to affordability was evident, with prices averaging 20-30% lower than comparable store-bought items, making healthy and sustainable eating more accessible to budget-conscious families.

Imperfect Foods Unboxing Experience & Video

To truly understand the Imperfect Foods experience, nothing beats seeing it firsthand. The unboxing video above provides a visual tour of what to expect when your order arrives. You’ll see how the products are carefully packaged, the types of items included, and the overall quality of the delivered groceries. This video offers an authentic glimpse into the practical aspects of their service, from the moment the boxes arrive at your doorstep to the reveal of the rescued goodies inside.

How to Order From Imperfect Foods Grocery Delivery: A Step-by-Step Guide

Embarking on my first Imperfect Foods order was an insightful journey. I signed up eagerly, ready to test the service firsthand. Initially, the sign-up process presented a minor point of confusion. Upon registration, I was prompted to select a “starter option.” This involved choosing a default box size—small, medium, large, or extra-large—and specifying my preferred delivery frequency (weekly or every-other-week). I also had to indicate whether I preferred organic or conventional items. These initial selections led me to believe that I would be locked into receiving only the pre-selected items based on these choices, similar to older produce box services.

However, let me reassure you: you are absolutely not locked into anything at this stage. While prices for these starter options might be displayed, no charges are incurred until your personalized customization window opens. This crucial window typically opens a few days before your scheduled delivery, and you’ll receive a convenient email notification to let you know it’s time to customize your box.

It’s during this customization stage that the genius of Imperfect Foods truly shines and where I fully grasped their flexible system. When your customization window is active, you can view the items that have been pre-selected for your default box. From there, you have complete control: you can choose to keep any or all of the suggested items, or you can easily remove anything you don’t want. More excitingly, you can then browse a vast array of available groceries—from fresh produce to pantry staples, dairy, meat alternatives, and snacks—and add exactly what you need to your box. This freedom allows you to tailor your order perfectly to your household’s needs and preferences, making grocery shopping both efficient and enjoyable.

Below is a screenshot I captured during the process of customizing my medium-sized box, illustrating just how user-friendly the interface is:

On the right side of the screen, you’ll see a clear list of the items initially chosen for your suggested box. It’s incredibly straightforward to scroll through this list and simply click to remove any item you don’t wish to receive. An important detail to remember is that your initial choice of an organic or conventional starter box does not limit your customization options. For instance, even if I chose an organic starter box, I am perfectly free to add any conventional produce or other grocery items that are available.

Again, this highlights the flexibility – you’re truly not locked into anything, which is a huge advantage for diversified shopping habits.

(If you’re curious about my reasoning for sometimes choosing conventional produce, it’s primarily to manage my grocery budget. I often refer to the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” lists. I prioritize buying organic for items on the “Dirty Dozen” list, which tend to have higher pesticide residues, but confidently choose conventional options for items on the “Clean Fifteen” list, where pesticide levels are generally much lower.)

Once you’ve refined your initial box, you can then scroll through the appealing images of available items displayed on the left side of your screen. To add an item to your box, simply click the “+” button next to it. Whether you want to fill your box exclusively with produce or create a balanced mix of fruits, vegetables, dairy, pantry staples, and even meat or seafood alternatives, the choice is entirely yours. This seamless and intuitive process makes customizing your sustainable grocery delivery incredibly simple and empowering.

Imperfect Foods Packaging: Sustainable & Smart Solutions

One of the aspects of Imperfect Foods that I find most commendable, as you may have observed in the unboxing video, is their thoughtful approach to packaging. In an era where plastic waste is a major environmental concern, Imperfect Foods stands out for its conscious effort to minimize its environmental footprint, particularly through the reduction of plastic in their deliveries.

The box I received for this review, for instance, arrived efficiently packed within two sturdy cardboard boxes. The amount of plastic was remarkably minimal – I only found it around a single head of cauliflower, a small plastic container for grape tomatoes, and the necessary packaging for cheese and tortillas. This significantly reduces the plastic waste commonly associated with traditional grocery shopping and many other delivery services.

Beyond the primary cardboard, the only other packaging components were a reusable cold ice pack and an insulated silver quilted liner designed to keep temperature-sensitive items like cheese perfectly chilled during transit. This minimal and purposeful packaging demonstrates their commitment to both product integrity and environmental responsibility.

What to do with the packaging? A Sustainable Solution!

Recycling cardboard is usually straightforward for most households. For us, it’s particularly useful as we often save it for organic weed control in our garden, in addition to conventional recycling services that readily accept it. But what about the specialized packaging like the ice packs and insulated liners? While these items are certainly robust enough for personal reuse – they make excellent additions to picnics, camping trips, or even packing school lunches – you’d realistically only need a few. Accumulating many could quickly become impractical.

Here’s where Imperfect Foods offers an exceptional, truly circular solution: in most service areas, you can conveniently return the ice packs and silver packaging!

If your deliveries are handled by an Imperfect Foods driver (and not a third-party carrier like FedEx), you can simply leave the clean, empty packaging out on your porch or at your designated delivery spot when your next box is due. Their delivery team will collect it for reuse and recycling. This closed-loop system is a fantastic feature, significantly reducing waste and making the entire process more eco-friendly for consumers. I was genuinely pleased to try this out and confirm that, indeed, they efficiently collected the packaging I had left out, reinforcing my positive impression of their commitment to sustainability.

Types of Food & Pricing for Imperfect Foods: A Detailed Look

The image above showcases my complete order, which arrived across two boxes, as detailed in the unboxing video. It’s important to remember that this selection reflects my specific choices at that time; Imperfect Foods offers a vast and ever-changing inventory of produce and other grocery items. For instance, there were many other fruit options available that I didn’t select simply because we already had plenty on hand.

To give you a clearer idea of the value, here’s a breakdown of the produce and non-produce items I ordered, along with their prices from January 2020:

• Organic Celery (1 ct) $1.89
• Organic Bell Peppers (1 lb) $3.19
• Organic Carrots (1 lb) $2.18
• Organic Potatoes (1 lb) $1.58
• Organic Apples (3 ct) $1.79
• Organic Parsnips (1 lb) $2.39
• Organic Rainbow Carrot Bunch (1 ct) $2.29
• Organic Grape Tomatoes (1 ct) $3.09
• Organic Romaine Lettuce (1 ct) $2.09
• Organic Beets (1 lb) $1.75
• Conventional Onions (1 lb) $0.65
• Conventional Cauliflower (1 ct) $3.06
• Conventional Turnips (1 ct) $1.89
• Conventional Avocados (3 ct) $1.99
• Imperfect Foods – Sharp White Cheddar Cheese (8 oz) $3.49
• Mi Rancho Organic Flour Tortillas (6 ct) (10.8 oz) $2.49
• Mind Fish Co. Skipjack Tuna with Spring Water (5.6 oz) $1.49
• Imperfect Foods Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips (14 oz) $2.99

The total for these groceries came to $40.29, plus a $4.99 delivery fee. While I mistakenly quoted the total as $43 in the video, the actual cost for this specific order with shipping was $45.28. This pricing provides a solid benchmark, illustrating the competitive value of having high-quality, rescued groceries delivered directly to your door.

It’s also worth noting that Imperfect Foods often offers free shipping for orders exceeding $60, providing an additional incentive for larger or less frequent stock-ups.

UPDATE: Navigating Price Changes & The Misfit Market Merger

In the years since this unboxing video and initial review, just like prices across all grocery stores due to global economic shifts and the pandemic, Imperfect Foods’ prices have also seen an increase. This trend accelerated further with their merger with Misfits Market. Consequently, my purchasing habits have adapted. I now tend to order less frequently, primarily for convenience or to supplement my garden’s produce output. While still a valuable service, the shift in pricing means it’s no longer my go-to for all groceries. For more current insights into how I integrate Imperfect Foods into my budget today, please see the “January 2024 Update” below.

How does Imperfect Foods fit into a tight grocery budget?

This is a frequently asked and highly relevant question, one that I’ve received on YouTube and want to address thoroughly here. While our family budget isn’t as constrained now as it was when our children were younger, I vividly recall the challenges of stretching every dollar. Determining if Imperfect Foods is the right fit for your specific budget will depend heavily on your unique circumstances and the cost of groceries in your local area. If you live in a region where fresh produce and staples are consistently available at significantly lower prices through local markets or discount stores, then Imperfect Foods might not offer the best financial advantage for every item.

However, I strongly encourage you to at least explore their website and compare prices. Using this coupon code for your first order provides a risk-free opportunity to experience the service and assess if it aligns with your budget and lifestyle. In my experience, the prices for many items on Imperfect Foods are comparable to, or even better than, what I find at discount grocery stores like Grocery Outlet, even when factoring in the delivery fee. This makes it a viable alternative for many staples.

For me personally, the convenience factor translates directly into savings. Each trip I can save to a physical grocery store often means avoiding impulse purchases – those appealing sale items that weren’t on my list. While these aren’t necessarily bad purchases, they inevitably increase the total cost of a shopping trip. My goal is to leverage Imperfect Foods to keep our household well-stocked with produce (which is typically the primary reason for my frequent store visits) and thereby reduce my need for traditional grocery store trips to just once a month, and perhaps Costco runs to once every other month. This strategic use of delivery services not only saves time but also helps me stick to my budget by minimizing exposure to tempting, unplanned buys.

As you can probably gather, I remain quite pleased with Imperfect Foods. The ability to customize my box, coupled with their mission to reduce food waste and their convenient delivery, makes it a valuable service. I intend to continue receiving boxes from them every other week, adjusting as our needs dictate. The flexibility is a major plus: it’s incredibly easy to skip a delivery if you don’t need anything that week, so there’s no pressure or commitment beyond what suits your schedule and budget.

Have you used Imperfect Foods Delivery Service? I’d love to know what you think and hear about your experiences in the comments below!

*June 2021 Update: Continued Experience During a Challenging Time*

Since my initial review, we have continued to receive boxes regularly from Imperfect Foods. The service proved invaluable, especially through the unpredictable times of the pandemic and associated lockdowns, for which I was incredibly grateful. Based on my ongoing experience and some recurring comments from readers, I wanted to address a few key points:

• Produce Quality: In my numerous orders, I have occasionally received 1-2 produce items that were not ideal for use – for instance, beets that were too woody even after prolonged cooking, and one other item I can’t recall. However, I typically don’t contact customer service for these minor instances. My reasoning is twofold: it’s often difficult for them to detect such issues during packing, and more importantly, I strongly believe in supporting their mission of reducing overall food waste and promoting responsible consumption. A few imperfect items are a small price to pay for the larger good.
• Customer Service Excellence: Contrary to some comments I’ve seen, my personal interactions with Imperfect Foods’ customer service have been consistently positive and highly responsive. On one occasion when I received less rhubarb than I had ordered, I submitted a message through their website. The very next day, I received an email confirming a credit had been applied to my account, demonstrating their commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Popularity and Customization Timelines: The service has undoubtedly grown in popularity, particularly exacerbated by the pandemic’s impact on grocery shopping habits. I’ve learned that to ensure availability of specific items, it’s beneficial to customize my box as early as possible once the customization window opens. To help with this, I’ve even set a reminder on my phone to ensure I don’t miss the optimal selection period.
• Value Proposition: As mentioned in my initial review, if your local area offers significantly cheaper produce and grocery options, Imperfect Foods might not be the most budget-friendly choice for every single item – and that’s perfectly fine. However, I still believe it’s worth trying at least once, especially with a coupon code. Just like any traditional grocery store, some items offer excellent value, while others might be priced higher. For me, living in a rural area, the unparalleled convenience of having groceries delivered to my doorstep adds significant value that often outweighs slight price differences, saving me time, gas, and the temptation of impulse buys.

January 2024 Update: Adapting to Evolving Costs

If you’ve recently visited the Imperfect Foods website, you’ve likely noticed that the prices are considerably higher than the figures I listed in my 2020 review. This is an unavoidable reality, reflecting the broad inflationary pressures that have impacted grocery costs across the board, particularly post-pandemic and further influenced by the Misfit Market merger. To be transparent, because of these price increases, I no longer order from Imperfect Foods as frequently as I once did.

Currently, I place an order only about once a month, or sometimes every six weeks. When I do order, my focus is primarily on produce (especially when my garden isn’t yielding much) and a select few dairy products. I find that certain dairy items, like their butter, often remain consistently priced with what I would find in conventional stores, making them still a good value. The biggest benefit now is undeniably the convenience. During periods when life gets exceptionally busy, and a trip to the grocery store to refresh our produce supply feels daunting, having fresh, quality items delivered directly to my home is an absolute lifesaver. This strategic, convenience-driven ordering is how Imperfect Foods continues to find its place within our household’s food budget today, offering targeted solutions rather than serving as our primary grocery source.

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