Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods: Comparing Apples to Apples

In a Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods comparison, you’ll find a couple of differences, mostly in price and delivery area. Both offer “ugly” produce, and we’ll cover all of that, plus a few tips to save on produce in general.

First, though, if you’re trying to decide on Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods, something to keep in mind is Misfits Market acquired Imperfect Foods in the fall of 2022. While the company says nothing will change immediately, eventually things may evolve as they become one company.

For now, let’s look at Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods as they currently exist: two separate companies.

Get your hands on produce coupons so you never miss another discount on fruits and veggies. And download The Krazy Coupon Lady app so that you never miss a money-saving deal.

 

What is imperfect or “ugly” produce?

“Ugly” produce are fruits and vegetables that are difficult for traditional grocery stores to sell because they’re too small, weirdly shaped, or otherwise not in line with a consumer’s expectations.

However, this doesn’t mean bruised fruit or produce past its date. This isn’t low-quality stuff. It’s really just produce that’s funny looking but just as high in quality as its more beautiful counterpart.

Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods are the leading retailers of this “ugly” produce, both companies selling items for up to 40% less than a regular grocery store. Let’s dive in.

 

Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods

In a Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods comparison, we have to look at a few different things, like what sort of products each offers. Then there’s the price different and how ordering works differently among the two. Let’s take a look:

Misfits Market

• What does Misfits Market offer? Organic produce, meat, seafood, dairy products, and some pantry items (like Goldfish crackers, for example)
• Where does Misfits Market deliver to? All states except Hawaii and Alaska. Find out if Misfits Market delivers to your city.
• Package options: You can get a $35 per week box, which includes 11 – 14 items (1 – 2 people) or a $40 box, which includes 12 – 15 items (3+ people)
• Shipping cost: Flat rate starting at $6.99 per order, based on where you live
• How it works: Sign up and add items to your order. You’ll receive your first delivery within 3 – 5 days. Every week, you can add or remove items to your order within a window of time before it’s scheduled to ship. If you want to skip a week, you can as long as you do it before 11:45 ET the day before you’re set to be charged for the order.

Imperfect Foods

• What does Imperfect Foods offer? Organic and nonorganic produce, along with all sorts of other groceries
• Where does Imperfect Foods deliver to? Most big cities in the U.S., with a goal to continue expanding. Find out if Imperfect Foods delivers to your area
• Package options: Imperfect Foods offers four different size boxes, all based on weight, not item number. As such, if you’re ordering smaller fruit, you’ll get more pieces for your money. Small organic box (7 – 9 lb) starts at $15, Medium (11 – 14 lb) starts at $22, Large (17 – 19 lb) starts at $33, and X-Large (23 – 25 lb), starts at $39
• Shipping cost: Flat rate of $5.99 per order
• How it works: Sign up and add items to your order. You’ll receive your first delivery within a few days. The next week, you’ll have a shopping window where you can change items out. As long as you opt to skip a week before your shopping window closes, you’ll be able to do so.

 

Misfits Market coupon

Use code 22EOY50X4 for 50% off your first four orders. When you go to Misfits Market online, you’ll have the option of tapping on this code to automatically add it to your order.

 

Imperfect Produce coupon

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any Imperfect Foods produce coupons, but Imperfect Foods offers a referral program. When your friend signs up for deliveries using your unique referral code (which you receive when you sign up), they’ll get $20 off their first order. You’ll receive a $20 credit on your account once they receive their first delivery.

 

 

Other Tips for Saving on Produce

 

Shop at Aldi for overall best produce savings.

Of the grocery stores I compared, Aldi most consistently came in with the lowest prices on popular produce. Four times out of 10 they had the lowest price (bananas, strawberries, carrots, and broccoli), and only one out of ten times did they have the highest price (Roma tomatoes).

 

Walmart’s produce prices are a mixed bag.

For the produce items I looked at, Walmart had both the most items with the steepest price tags and came in second place for cheapest. That said, the differences in price weren’t astronomical. A few cents per pound in many cases. So you might get the best price on your produce there or you might get the worst price, depending on what you buy.

 

Grocery Outlet isn’t the discount store you think it is when it comes to produce.

Grocery Outlet, which promises prices lower than traditional grocery stores, isn’t impressive in the produce department. In fact, they don’t look that much cheaper overall than Target or Kroger; not to mention you can’t get a bag of full-size carrots. At least you can’t at my local Grocery Outlet.

 

 

Join a produce CSA to get a weekly produce delivery.

CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture” — you’ll buy “shares” of a farm’s produce harvest up front, and then once the harvest happens, you get your portion until the season is over.

A CSA typically results in a box of produce every week during spring and summer (sometimes into the fall), but the amount and type of produce varies based on the farm and what’s in season. You don’t handpick what types of produce you want — you get what you get. Additionally, you usually need to pick it up at a location, although many CSAs offer delivery, too.

Here’s what you can expect to see in the spring and summer:

Full-Share of a Produce CSA (one full box of produce every week for 17 weeks): $600 or about $35 per week

Half-Share of a Produce CSA (one half box of produce every week for 17 weeks): $400 or about $25 per week

Here’s an example of everything I’ve received in the past for a one half-share organic CSA delivery, compared to regular retail prices. Keep in mind, I only paid $25.

• 1/2 dozen free range eggs ($3.50)
• 1 bunch cilantro ($1.49)
• 1 container sugar snap peas ($4.69)
• 2 head bok choy ($3.38 each)
• 1 head cauliflower ($6.23)
• 1 cantaloupe ($3.99)
• 2 gala apples ($1.25 each)
• 2 white peaches ($1.68 each)
• 1 yellow onion ($1.34)
• 2 zucchini ($0.68 each)
• 4 carrots ($1)
• 3 cucumbers ($1.49 each)
• 2 tomatoes ($1 each)
• 1 basket strawberries ($5.99)
• 1/2 pound green beans ($5 per pound)
• 1 bag baby spinach ($5)
• 1 bunch romaine ($1.99)
• 1 container shiitake mushrooms ($5, nonorganic)
• 2 white creamer potatoes ($2 each)
• 1 container cherry tomatoes ($3.99 nonorganic)
• 2 head of corn ($5.99 for four)
• 2 navel oranges ($1.41 each)

Total retail value: $76.98 — that’s $51.98 in savings!