My Experience Ordering Online Groceries with Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods started out as an "ugly produce" subscription box that focused on bringing imperfect produce into consumers homes at a discount rate.
This sustainable food brand has expanded into offering a variety of groceries to customers at reduced prices while lowering food waste.
These groceries are items that would have ended up in a landfill, but conscious consumers can grocery shop sustainably with Imperfect Foods.
I’m excited to share my review as an Imperfect Foods customer.
This review was originally published in 2018 and recently updated in 2025. As of 2025, I am still an Imperfect Foods customer with occasional orders! And note that Imperfect Produce changed their name to Imperfect foods.
My linked discount and referral code do give me a credit if you choose to purchase.
What was in my Imperfect Foods Box?
I chose just the organic produce in my box. Customers can select a variety of options such as amount, fruits/veggies, organic/non-organic, and how often they would like a box delivered. For my first box I opted for the medium organic box.
We got SO much wonderful produce! A few of the items we got were blueberries, radishes, onions, squash, plums, and so much more.
Check out my unboxing video for the details! The produce tastes fabulous and the imperfections are minor. So crazy to think this food could've gone to waste.
Sustainable shoppers can also choose from a variety of groceries to include in their box such as canned goods, dairy products, meats, beverages, bakery items, & more to customize their box.
Imperfect Foods even has meat and dairy alternatives for vegan shoppers.
The Environmental Impact of Wasted Produce
Aside from being wasteful, our food has a dramatic impact on the environment. When food ends up in a landfill this can create methane gas which can contribute to climate change and global warming.
One of the cool features on Imperfect Foods’ website is you can see your direct impact from the boxes you've purchased.
My Impact as a customer over the past few years
My box alone diverted 11 pounds of produce, saved 63 gallons of water, and kept 38 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air because we kept this produce out of the landfill.
What is Ugly Produce and why is it important reducing waste?
Ugly produce can mean a lot of different things! Basically stores & consumers have an ideal image of what we want our food to look like. If the produce grows into a funny shape, has abnormal coloring, or marks, this produce can go to waste.
Farmers can't pack the abnormal sized produce into the crates to meet the necessary requirements to sell. Grocery stores won't buy it because they want produce that fits nicely on display shelves.
Pin this infographic to educate others on imperfect produce
And thus begins the cycle of ugly produce waste. Imperfect Foods reports that 20% of produce doesn't even leave U.S. farms based on how it looks. What a silly waste!
There are many people in our country who are in need of food and it's crazy to think we're letting so much go to waste based on appearance.
How much food is wasted in the United States?
The Guardian reports that an estimated 160 billion dollars of produce goes to waste in the United States each year. That is a ridiculous amount of wasted food.
Imperfect Foods is a sustainable grocery outlet for customers to purchase produce, meat, dairy, canned goods, snacks, and more.
My order in 2025
These goods would have otherwise ended up in the landfill, but customers are able to shop at a discounted rate & divert these foods from landfills.
How I Used My Imperfect Food
In my first Imperfect Food Box I got a wonderful variety of goods. Cilantro, blueberries, carrots, limes, and so much more arrived in my medium size organic produce box.
I love cooking and cooked up a few things using my Imperfect Foods.
Roasted Vegetables
I roasted the Imperfect carrots, squash, and potatoes. After cutting up the veggies I laid them in a single layer on a sheet pan, used about two tablespoons of olive oil, added salt, pepper, and two cloves of minced garlic, and threw the veggies in the oven for 30 mins on 400 degrees.
The roasted veggies made for a healthy, delicious side dish. And super easy to make!
Blueberry Pancakes
Blueberry Pancakes are one of my favorite weekend breakfasts. I love the savory taste of the pancake with the pop of fruit melting in my mouth. I used my Imperfect Foods Blueberries to cook up some Blueberry Pancakes!
To make blueberry pancakes I mix the dry ingredients together first which includes 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (use less if you want less fluffy), 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon Fair Trade Cane Sugar.
Then I mix in the wet ingredients which consists of 1 1/4 cups Organic Whole Milk, 3 tablespoons melted Ghee (or butter), and one organic, free-range egg.
After I've made my pancake batter I heat the frying pan on medium heat, melt ghee (or butter), and begin scooping my batter into the hot pan. While the first side of the pancakes are cooking, I stick blueberries in the batter.
Once the top of the pancake starts to show little bubbles, flip it and let the blueberries cook into the fluffy pancake! After the remaining side is turned a golden brown, remove the pancakes and enjoy your delicious breakfast! Yummm!
Imperfect Foods Discount Code
Consider using Imperfect Foods and reducing food waste! Use this link to get $10 off your first Imperfect Foods box! Woohoo!
Imperfect Foods delivers to most of the West South Central region, Midwest, Northeast and all along the West Coast. But if they are not near you right now, don't worry they're growing fast!
How Imperfect Foods Gives Back
Imperfect Foods has partnered with a number of non-profits to give back.
Since Imperfect Foods is saving food that would typically be wasted, there is more produce readily available which allows them to share these yummy fruits and veggies with other communities.
For a detailed list of Imperfect Food's non-profit partnerships check out their website.
An example of one of their partnerships is 18 Reasons which provides free cooking classes to low income families in the Bay Area, allowing these families to learn how to cook healthy meals on a budget. 18 Reasons uses Imperfect Produce in some of their cooking classes due to Imperfect Foods generous donations.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer and an expert in conscious consumerism. She has been in the ethical and sustainable living space for over ten years. Emily has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, finding locally grown food at the farmer’s market, & practicing slow living.
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