Imperfect Foods Review: An Honest Look at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Produce

Hey there, conscious consumers! If you‘re like me, you‘re always looking for ways to make your shopping habits more sustainable and reduce your environmental impact. That‘s why I was excited to try Imperfect Foods, a grocery delivery service on a mission to fight food waste by rescuing and redistributing imperfect or surplus fruits, veggies, and other pantry staples that would otherwise go to waste.

As someone who loves cooking and eating healthy, seasonal produce, but hates seeing the amount of food that gets discarded because of arbitrary cosmetic standards, I was intrigued by Imperfect Foods‘ promise to deliver "ugly" but perfectly edible produce right to my doorstep. I eagerly signed up and have been getting weekly boxes for a few months now.

But after seeing more and more negative reviews and complaints about Imperfect Foods popping up online, I wanted to take a step back and share an honest, balanced review of my experience with the company and address some of the criticisms I‘ve been seeing. I‘ll walk you through how the service works, the pros and cons I‘ve encountered, and what you should know before signing up. Let‘s dig in!

What is Imperfect Foods & How Does It Work?

First, let‘s start with a quick overview of what Imperfect Foods is all about. The company was founded in 2015 with the goal of reducing food waste and increasing access to affordable, healthy food by partnering with farmers and producers to rescue imperfect or surplus produce and pantry items that would otherwise go to waste.

Here are some key facts and stats about Imperfect Foods and the food waste problem they‘re tackling:

• According to the USDA, food waste is estimated at 30-40% of the total US food supply. That‘s about 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food thrown away each year!

• Imperfect Foods has rescued over 139 million pounds of food since 2015, which they estimate has prevented over 37,000 tons of CO2e emissions.

• The company has donated over 5 million pounds of food to food banks and non-profits, and reinvested over $300,000 in grants to support food waste solutions.

• Imperfect Foods currently serves over 35 cities in 25 states across the South, Midwest, and East Coast of the US.

So how does it work? Customers sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly subscription and can choose between different box sizes based on their household size: small (1-2 people), medium (2-4 people), or large (4-6 people). You can also customize your box preferences based on dietary needs, like organic or vegan.

Each week, you‘ll get an email with a preview of what seasonal produce and grocery items are available, and you can customize your box by adding or removing items. Prices vary, but are generally 30-50% less than grocery store prices. Then your box gets delivered right to your door with recyclable packaging and ice packs to keep things fresh.

Common Complaints & Negative Reviews

Sounds great, right? In theory, yes. But as I mentioned, there have been a growing number of negative reviews and complaints about Imperfect Foods in recent years. Let‘s break down some of the most common issues customers have reported:

1. Poor Produce Quality & Freshness

By far the most frequent complaint I‘ve seen about Imperfect Foods is people receiving produce that is past its prime, either already spoiled or going bad within a day or two of delivery. Some choice one-star Facebook reviews describe horrors like "moldy blackberries", "brown and mushy squash", and "cucumbers that turned to mush in 24 hours."

Yikes! It‘s understandable that people trying Imperfect Foods expect produce with physical quirks, but not borderline rotten. I can imagine the frustration of paying premium prices only to throw away inedible produce a day later.

In defense of Imperfect Foods, their whole model is based on rescuing and selling off produce that is a bit past its conventional prime. The shelf life may be shorter than grocery store produce. Personally, I‘ve had a couple mandarins arrive very soft and wrinkly, but after 6+ months and 50+ items, I‘ve never received anything that I‘d consider totally inedible.

The company says it has strict quality control measures and a satisfaction guarantee – if something arrives damaged or spoiled you can request a refund. But prevention is better than cure. I‘d recommend checking the contents of your box ASAP when it arrives and refrigerating everything to extend the life. Eat the most perishable items first. You can also customize your box to avoid produce you‘ve had bad luck with.

2. Missing, Incorrect, or Damaged Items

Another pain point for many Imperfect Foods customers is opening their box to find missing items they were expecting and had paid for, incorrect substitutions they didn‘t agree to, or items damaged from rattling around loose in the box. People have received leaky meat packages, smashed tomatoes, and pulverized chips.

I get the sense that quality control and packing procedures may vary quite a bit between Imperfect Foods‘ different regional fulfillment centers. In my experience, my boxes have always arrived intact with everything I ordered. But I‘ve heard from friends in different cities who frequently get substitutions they don‘t want and have to negotiate getting refunds.

To minimize your chances of unwanted surprises, I recommend taking a close look at your box preview when the email comes and removing any items you really don‘t want. You can also leave notes for your packer about items you absolutely don‘t want substitutions for.

3. Unhelpful Customer Service

Perhaps the most worrying pattern I‘ve noticed in Imperfect Foods negative reviews is difficulty getting timely, helpful responses from customer service to the aforementioned issues. Emails and DMs to the company going unanswered, scripted replies that don‘t address the specific problem, representatives refusing to issue refunds, etc.

I‘ll admit, I‘ve never had to contact Imperfect Foods‘ customer service myself. But as someone who has worked in customer-facing roles, I know how crucial it is to make customers feel heard and resolve issues promptly and professionally. It‘s a red flag if a high volume of customers are hitting a wall trying to get help.

To be fair, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Imperfect Foods was dealing with unprecedented demand and supply chain disruptions. I‘m sure their customer service was overwhelmed. But that was over a year ago. If unresponsive service is still an issue now, that‘s concerning.

My suggestion? Take screenshots of any issues with your deliveries in case you need to provide proof. I recommend contacting customer service via email so you have a written record. If you don‘t get a satisfactory response in 2 business days, try following up or contacting them through a different channel.

4. How Imperfect Are the Prices?

Finally, some budget-conscious customers have questioned whether Imperfect Foods‘ prices are truly a bargain, especially for the imperfect produce. I‘ve seen reviews arguing that after delivery fees, the prices aren‘t much lower than just buying similar ugly produce on sale at a discount grocery store.

Here‘s my take: It‘s not an apples to apples comparison (pun intended). With Imperfect Foods you‘re paying for the convenience of online ordering and home delivery. You‘re supporting a mission-driven company that‘s investing in food waste solutions and more sustainable and equitable supply chains.

That said, if you‘re on a tight budget and fighting food waste is a lower priority for you than getting the absolute lowest price per pound, you might get more bang for your buck buying discounted produce locally. But for me, I‘m happy to pay a small premium to save time and fuel costs of going to the store, while voting with my dollars for a more sustainable food system.

Is Imperfect Foods Worth It? My Verdict

So after laying out the potential issues and downsides, you‘re probably wondering "Is Imperfect Foods still worth trying?" Obviously, it depends on your individual situation, priorities, and willingness to deal with some…imperfections. But here‘s my personal take:

For me, the positives of Imperfect Foods – the convenience of online grocery shopping, the satisfaction of rescuing food that would be wasted, and the pride of supporting an innovative, mission-driven company – outweigh the minor negatives I‘ve experienced.

No company is perfect, especially not one trying to disrupt the entrenched, dysfunctional food system. I‘m willing to cut them some slack as they scale and improve their model. I‘ve never received anything I couldn‘t eat or had major problems with my deliveries. Maybe I‘ve just been lucky, or maybe the horror stories from unhappy customers are extreme outliers amplified by review sites and social media.

I think it‘s also worth remembering the psychology of reviews. Customers are more motivated to write a negative review after a memorably bad experience than to write a positive review after an unremarkably okay experience. So I take the abundance of 1-star reviews with a grain of salt.

That said, I don‘t want to totally discount the legitimately bad experiences some customers have had. If I experienced some of the issues reported in negative reviews first-hand, I‘m sure my praise for the company would be more qualified. Imperfect Foods seems to still have some kinks to iron out to provide a more consistent, high-quality experience across different regions and seasons.

My recommendation? If you‘re intrigued by the concept and willing to be a bit flexible and understanding, give Imperfect Foods a try. Start with a small box and see how the first few deliveries go before committing to a bigger subscription. Check your produce quality closely and don‘t be shy about requesting refunds for any unacceptable items.

Think of yourself as an early adopter supporting a scrappy startup trying to fix the horribly broken food system. There may be some bumps in the road, but you could discover a more sustainable and fun way to fill your fridge!

FAQs About Imperfect Foods

To wrap up, I wanted to address some other frequently asked questions about Imperfect Foods that I often see from prospective customers, to help you make an informed decision:

How reliable are Imperfect Foods‘ deliveries? Do they arrive on time?

In my experience, my Imperfect Foods box has always arrived within the 1-hour window on my chosen delivery day. I get a text reminder the day before and a notification when my box is on its way.

However, I have heard of some customers experiencing significant delays or even skipped deliveries, especially in 2020 during COVID surges and extreme weather events that snarled shipping networks. The best defense is selecting a delivery day early in the week so there‘s time to adjust if any issues arise.

Can I see what‘s in my box before it‘s delivered? What if I don‘t want something?

Yes! A few days before each delivery, you‘ll get an email with a preview of what seasonal produce and grocery items are in your box by default. You can then customize it to your liking by removing anything you don‘t want and adding other items from the marketplace. Your box will be packed according to your final selections.

What happens if I‘m not home during my delivery window?

No worries! Imperfect Foods uses insulated boxes with ice packs, so your food will stay fresh for several hours without refrigeration. The courier will just leave your box wherever you normally receive packages. You don‘t need to be present to sign for it.

What‘s the deal with Imperfect Foods‘ packaging? Is it sustainable?

Imperfect Foods is committed to using recyclable and compostable packaging whenever possible, but it‘s not perfect (pun intended). The cardboard box, paper cooler liner, and paper produce bags can be recycled or composted.

However, the plastic deli bags and the gel ice packs are a little trickier. If you can‘t find a local spot to recycle them, you may need to throw them in the trash. Reuse them if you can! The company is apparently working on sourcing a recyclable ice pack, so hopefully that improves in the future.

Is Imperfect Foods actually making a dent in food waste? Or is it just greenwashing?

It‘s a great question and honestly a bit hard to answer definitively. On the one hand, Imperfect Foods claims some impressive stats for the amount of food waste they‘ve diverted and carbon emissions they‘ve prevented. They‘ve rescued over 139 million pounds of imperfect produce and donated over 5 million pounds to food banks.

As a certified B-corp, they‘re held to high, verified standards of social and environmental impact. But some skeptical customers rightly point out that Imperfect Foods could be more transparent about what portion of their offerings is truly "rescued" vs. just surplus or discards that may have gone to food banks anyway.

My take? While fighting food waste is central to Imperfect Foods‘ branding, their model isn‘t perfect or immune to critique. There may be some cherrypicked stats and fuzzy definitions of waste at play. But ultimately I believe their heart is in the right place and they‘re a net positive over the conventional food system. We shouldn‘t let the perfect be the enemy of the good!

The Bottom Line

Whew, that was a lot! I know this has been a long review, but I hope I‘ve given you a balanced, nuanced look at both the potential benefits and drawbacks of Imperfect Foods based on my personal experience and research. As you can probably tell, I‘m a fan overall, despite some valid criticisms and room for improvement.

Ultimately, whether Imperfect Foods is right for you depends on your budget, your priorities, your tolerance for the occasional imperfect experience, and how much you value convenience and fighting food waste. If you‘re open to a bit of adventure in your grocery shopping and are passionate about supporting a mission-driven innovator in the food space, I say give them a try!

But if you need rock-bottom prices, are super picky about produce perfection, or can‘t deal with any surprises or snafus, you‘re probably better off sticking with the grocery store for now. No shame in that!

For me, I‘m grateful to have Imperfect Foods in my toolkit for eating more sustainably and affordably. I love the feeling of rescuing quirky, clever produce and supporting farmers that would otherwise go to waste. It‘s not always perfectly smooth sailing, but that‘s kind of the point, isn‘t it? Embracing imperfection in all its forms, for the greater good.

So that‘s my take! I‘m curious to hear about your experiences, good or bad, with Imperfect Foods. Have you tried it? How did it compare to other grocery delivery services? Let me know in the comments!

In the meantime, I‘ll keep happily eating my ugly fruits and veggies and feeling good about doing a small part to fight food waste. Stay imperfect, my friends!