I love fruits and vegetables. I love not having to go to the store. I love saving money. And I love helping the planet. Imperfect Produce seems like the perfect solution for my family! But does it make sense? Here’s my honest review – non affiliated so trust that I’m giving the good, the bad, and the imperfect— including lots of photos and a sample order!
I do have a discount code so you and I both get savings if you choose to sign up! But all opinions are my own and other than this public available-to-anyone share code, Imperfect Produce hasn’t given me anything.
I have my own photos from various deliveries throughout this article – if you get an Imperfect Produce delivery, make sure that you take a pic and put it on Twitter with their hashtag #cookingugly so that they make an additional food donation!
Imperfect Produce: The Good
The biggest thing that I love about Imperfect Produce is the fact that it’s helping our earth. I like that produce is being sold which otherwise would probably be wasted; I also like that their packaging is recyclable and they deliver!
I appreciate that the offerings are different each cycle, there are honest descriptions in the product page so you know what the defect is (sometimes it’s just surplus or sometimes it’s something cosmetic like scarring) and which variety/varieties you’d be getting if you order. The pricing is transparent so that there are no surprises.
It’s great that Imperfect Produce encourages you to try new foods, from rambutans to beets. That adventurous approach to trying new foods can rub off on your kids, too!
As the purchaser in the family, I also like that I can customize the boxes by size and frequency, or even skip up to five weeks without having to cancel my account. And other than the $4.95/box delivery charge, there are no other membership fees or dues. So sign up whenever, cancel whenever. That’s it.
And of course, you get $10 for you and for your friend for each referral you get! Free food is always nice.
Imperfect Produce: The Bad
The big thing you have to be careful about with Imperfect Produce is the cost. If you’re like me and budget is a constant concern, you need to be aware of what the “fair” local price is. For example, if broccoli is $.80 each at my local grocery store, and Imperfect Produce has them for $1.20 each, I need to make a choice. There are a lot of items which can be cheaper via Imperfect Produce, you just have to have an idea of what the usual price for an item is. (Or honestly, if you don’t have to be that fiscally conservative, order from Imperfect Produce to help a cause and to get it delivered!)
Another thing I’ve experienced with Imperfect Produce is that I get excited to get all this produce, or to try new foods, and we end up not using it all in time. Since it’s not an item I’d normally buy, that’s extra grocery money that’s wasted. And I feel terrible when I have to throw money away.
I did have one bad lemon delivered in one of my orders; I tweeted about it, was contacted, and I ended up getting my order of lemons reimbursed plus some extra money. It was frustrating to have gotten rotten produce delivered, but I was extremely happy with how IP handled it.
Imperfect Produce: The Verdict
Overall I think that Imperfect Produce is a really great idea if you have a little bit of money to spare and you’re passionate about trying new things in a fun new way, and doing your part to help our planet. It’s nice to have stuff delivered, to get to customize your box, and to be encouraged to try new things.
I do think that it’s harder to justify using Imperfect Produce if your grocery budget is really tight, if you don’t eat a lot of fresh produce, and (if you don’t customize your box) if you don’t meal plan.
Do you use Imperfect Produce? What are your thoughts? Get my referral link here so you and I each get $10 for Imperfect Produce!
And here is my order detail sheet from early July 2019 in San Antonio.
MIXED FRUIT & VEGGIE BOX SMALL
| Product | Quantity | Price |
| Conventional Cucumber (1 ct) | 1 | $0.52 |
| Conventional Kiwis (4 ct) | 1 | $2.99 |
| Conventional Rambutan (5 ct) | 1 | $1.55 |
| Conventional Plums (1 lb) | 1 | $1.55 |
| Conventional Mango (2 ct) | 2 | $1.90 |
| Conventional Peaches (1 lb) | 1 | $1.85 |
| Conventional Lemons (3 ct) You were reimbursed for 1 of this item. | 1 | $1.75 |
| Conventional Sweet Potatoes (1 lb) | 1 | $0.79 |
| Conventional Tomatoes (1 lb) | 1 | $1.25 |
| Conventional Asparagus (1 ct) | 1 | $2.25 |
| Organic Strawberries (1 ct) You were reimbursed for 1 of this item. | 2 | $6.90 |
| Subtotal |
| $23.30 |
| Discount |
| $0.00 |
| Delivery Charge |
| $4.99 |
| Credits |
| $0.00 |
| Grand Total |
| $28.29 |
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