I was lured in by a friend’s Facebook post of a kitchen counter filled with fresh produce. The winter doldrums were hitting hard, and I wanted a glimpse that spring was coming, so I hit the button and subscribed to Misfits Market. Truthfully, I had no idea what it was or how it worked before I went to the website. It turned out to be a pretty good decision.
Want to learn if you can save money through Misfits Market? What about what is the produce like? And how does it compare to a CSA and other food rescue companies?
Here’s everything you need to know in our honest Misfits Market Review 2023.
Let’s go to The Chalkboard.
This post was originally published in 2021 and has been extensively updated. Misfits Market contacted The Kitchen Chalkboard and gave us a gift card to cover our most recent order. This post contains affiliate links. meaning that we will receive a small commission if you purchase at no extra cost to you. Opinions are our own. For more information, please read our full disclaimer.
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How Does Misfits Market Work?
The company’s mission is “to provide affordable access to healthy food and to fight the food waste crisis.” These are two ideas we can easily get behind. We are huge proponents of reducing food waste and saving money on groceries.
Here’s how it works. Misfits buys food from farms and other suppliers that aren’t up to grocery stores and other outlets’ standards and sell them to their customers. There aren’t major problems with the food; it’s just that they may be a little smaller than average or have a small blemish.
As of 2022, the company sells wine, pantry products, and dairy. These items may be close to expiration but otherwise, just fine.
It used to be that I had to commit to a box of produce with limited options. The company has changed its model and now offers its customers more flexibility. They now carry about 1,000 items. An order from Misfits won’t replace your shopping trip, but it can check off many items.
During the three-day shopping window, customers shop on the website and create an order. Once the total for the category reaches the $30 minimum, the order ships. There are three categories for orders, food (which includes produce and pantry items), wine, and cold items (which include dairy and meats). Each ship separately and therefore has a shipping charge.
Misfits Market Review 2023 — Does It Save You Money?
Yes, Misfits Market will save you money.
I compared the cost of a recent order from the company to a local grocery store. The grocery store’s total cost was $62.90, well above the $40 I paid Misfits Market. That $40 included shipping, too. That’s a savings of over $20!
As for online grocers, we’ve done several comparisons, and Amazon Fresh consistently comes in as the cheapest. Comparing our recent order, Misfits Market was in line with the cost of Fresh. The orders were within one dollar of one another.
The produce was enough vegetables to feed my family of four for a week. It was well worth the cost and aligned with my CSA.
Misfits Market Review 2023 – What Is The Produce Like?
The word misfits may be a turn-off to you. But the truth is, the ugly produce wasn’t too ugly after all. Most of the fruits and vegetables I received were no different than what I would pick for myself at the grocery store or receive from Amazon Fresh. Only the green bell peppers I received were a bit bruised, but the taste was okay. The zucchini also had a minor indent on the outside, which I attribute to thinner skin. That may be the variety and not necessarily attributed to Misfits.
I did find that the produce didn’t last nearly as long as my CSA or even grocery store produce. Now, comparing vegetables that have traveled a distance with ones from a local farm is not exactly fair. Quality certainly degrades over time on all vegetables, but it is worth noting that you will want to eat the food within a week or so to ensure quality.
Misfits Market Review 2023 – Shipping
When you place your order, it’s clear that has to meet your minimum before a certain day and time for it to arrive on a specific day. If you don’t complete the order within that timeframe, the date changes. It’s easy to know when your order will arrive when you are on the website. Once your order meets the minimum, it will ship on the date specified. NOTE: You won’t receive an email confirmation of your order, but you will receive a shipping confirmation.
The delivery service did a great job, and my orders were always on time and packages handled with care. Unlike other places I’ve ordered groceries, the packaging is minimal, and every piece can be recycled.
New for 2023, the company recycles your packaging, including gel packs, egg carton liners, and silver insulated liners. To take advantage of this program, leave your packaging where your order is normally delivered. If you’re in an apartment complex, use the Delivery Instructions to indicate where you’ll leave the packaging for pick up. I love this since excess packaging is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Misfits Market Shipping Fees 2023
Since categories ship separately, there are fees for each.
Wines – $8.99 for three bottles, free for six or more
Cold and Produce – Starts at $6.99 an order
Where Is Misfits Market Shipped From?
Misfits partners with various farms throughout the country. The company doesn’t list the farms on its website, and I wish they would. It would add a personal touch that would help the customer connect with the food better, especially those used to CSAs. When you do a crop share, you and the farmer connect.
Misfits Market shipped my produce from New Jersey. Based out of Philadelphia, the company recently opened a 140,000-square-foot facility to service the East Coast.
Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods
There are several competitors in the vegetable rescue market. Misfits Market’s main competition, Imperfect Foods, is another service we recommend. The company has a more extensive selection, although, with weekly orders, it’s more of a commitment. To learn more, read our honest review of Imperfect Foods.
New for 2023 — Misfits Market acquired Imperfect Food. As of now, both companies continue to operate separately, although, behind the scenes, they share resources.
Misfits Market Vs. A CSA
So, how is Misfits Market different than a CSA?
We are huge proponents of joining a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). You support local farmers while getting fresh produce. CSAs vary by farm, but most offer weekly produce you have delivered or picked up at a central location. Most times, you cannot choose what goes into the box you receive each week since it is based on what is in the fields.
Misfits Market is not a subscription-based program, and they gather produce from all different farms. The fruits and vegetables aren’t up to the cosmetic standards to sell via traditional methods, and the company rescues them to sell. Unlike a CSA, you can choose what you get in your package from specific items. As of last year, the company sells dairy, non-perishables, and wine, so you can get a lot of your shopping done. It won’t replace the grocery store, though.
An Honest Misfits Market Review 2023 – Is Misfits Market Worth It?
Misfits Market is an excellent service. The website is easy to use, and the product selection is great. We love their mission to make food affordable and end the food waste crisis!
Supporting local farmers is very important to me, and therefore, the service won’t take the place of my CSA.
Although the recent changes allow for more flexibility in ordering and greater product assortment, I will use it for a few weeks during the off-season. The prices are great, and it is a service we recommend.
Who Is Misfits Market Good For?
If you cook a great deal, Misfits Market may be the right fit for you. We love the selection –there were some vegetables they carried that were not offered at our local markets or farms.
But you must be prepared to use it up within a week of receiving your shipment, as the fruits and vegetables don’t last too long, and some dairy items have shorter expiration periods.
Misfits Market – Sign Up Now!
A Misfits Market Review 2023 —Who Is Misfits Market NOT Good For?
If you don’t plan on cooking often, do not bother with this service. Food needs to be used within a week or so, and if the food goes unused, you are creating more food waste!
Also, if you are trying to support local farmers, you are better served with a CSA.
How To Make The Most Of Your Misfits Market Box
- Start small. Go for a small order first to make sure you will eat everything. There’s no need to create more food waste! You can always move to a bigger package for your next delivery. Misfits Market makes that easy.
- Store items properly! Food will last longer when properly stored. I take bunched greens, wrap them in paper towels, and then place them in freezer bags. Non-bunched items, I add a paper towel to the bag it came in to help absorb any moisture. I found this guide very helpful.
- Inspect items and see what needs to be used first. A simple rule of thumb is that if you think the food is delicate, eat it first!
- Don’t be afraid to try new foods. Using Misfits Market is an excellent opportunity to try something new. Afraid you won’t like it? Make it a side dish and serve it with a favorite protein.
- Not sure what an item is? Contact them. Some vegetables look very similar (I’m looking at you, escarole and lettuce). If you aren’t sure what you got, check their website or email them.
- Meal plan! It reduces food waste and helps you to cook every night consistently. Don’t know where to start? Check out our Ultimate Guide.
What Do You Think?
Did you find our Misfits Market Review 2023 helpful? Have you tried a produce delivery service like Misfits Market or a CSA? How did it work out? Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear.
Interested in other online grocers? Check out our unbiased review of Thrive Market.
Happy Veggies!
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Colette Zaharko says
That is so cool! I have never heard about Misfits Market before, but they sound great from what I’m reading from your article. I am a huge fan of saving money on groceries and reducing food waste, so this is great. I buy fruits and vegetables that aren’t up to the cosmetic standards to sell all the time, and I save so much money that way.
Thanks for your review; I’ll have to look into it.
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
That is such a great program. There is so much food waste because produce isn’t pretty enough to sell in store. I live that they sell ugly produce!
Gabriela Herrera says
So happy these programs exist and bring more awareness to the food waste of the country. I buy a similar 25 pound box here in Texas for $25 dollars that includes delivery as well from a local farmer. Since we are a family of 3 my vegetable box lasts me 2 weeks. What I mostly enjoyed about this post is how well you explained the mission and vision of Misfits because this help many people make informed decisions of where they will be allocating their dollar.
Christina's Bread Bakes says
Thank you for this great review!! My friends have been participating in this for a while and recommended it so it’s good to see your positive feedback in this post. Thanks for helping me to come to a decision about the value of Misfits!
Ally says
I love hearing that you enjoyed Misfits Market. I’ve been wanting to try them for a while now, and think I’ll order as soon as I have time to start cooking again!
Beth Erfert says
I placed my first order early this week and the box was to be delivered today. However, it is not here (checked all around my house and garage, even around the neighbor’s house in case they delivered to the wrong address) even though the FedEx tracking info shows that it was delivered over 2 hours ago. Calling FedEx resulted in nothing but recorded instructions to call tomorrow if my box hadn’t arrived by 8 PM (it was already after 8 PM when I called). I emailed MM about the problem and got an email with 3 links in it that didn’t address the issue. The email says they will get back to me within 24 hours.
This is not very impressive, considering it’s my very first order. In light of the earlier comments about how the produce needs to be eaten promptly, I’m not happy that the order is apparently either lost or delayed. I had used and then quit Imperfect Produce b/c of poor service also and hoped that MM would be better. So far, it’s not looking that way…
Kristen says
What a bummer! If Misfits doesn’t work out, have you tried Imperfect Foods? I found their quality better. You can read out my experience here. https://thekitchenchalkboard.com/honest-imperfect-foods-review/
Good luck!
Tyne says
With my experience FedEx always claimed to have delivered my box 24-48 hours before it’s actual delivery (which would be before my scheduled date via my Misfits account). I think that was due to a systemic estimate as opposed to the actual Misfits delivery day I was scheduled for. When/if my box did not arrive on it’s actual scheduled date of delivery from the Misfits site then I would receive an alert from Misfits.
I hope this makes sense and is helpful!
Nada says
Hi, although the idea of saving food and damper our waste is amazing, the misfit felt short in delivering the service and quality that it claims. The packaging is a disaster, the quality of the food is not worth the saving. When I used to get the product, I would have to consume it within one day. Otherwise, the vegetables would be wasted. They throw everything in the box without paying close attention to the produce. Once it arrives at the final destination, the fruits would be juice, and the vegetables would be wilted or bruised. Multiple times I had to through away the product and go to the grocery to repurchase it.
I don’t recommend it at all!!!
Kristen says
I totally agree about the packaging. I opened the box and couldn’t believe that the produce was just thrown in there
Sha says
Can you share more information about the who Misfits Market is good for and who it is not good for? It’s a service I currently use, and I’m happy enough with it. I generally don’t have problems with the quality of the produce — I have a biweekly cadence set up and I usually end up skipping the in between weeks because the produce lasts me a decent amount of time when stored properly. I do agree, though, that the packaging is a disaster — I email them every single time to ask them to improve their QA for packaging bc everything really is just thrown in there. I always get oatmilk that is lying down and spills (there is completely enough space for it to be placed standing up), and heavy things placed on top of lighter things so they get crushed.
But anyway, I was looking at the honest review for Imperfect Foods to see if I’d be interested in trying that, and that review has the following 2 sections which this one does not — “Who Imperfect Foods is good for” and “Who Imperfect Foods is NOT good for”. I would love to get that same information for Misfits Market so it will help me decide if I want to switch or not.
Kristen says
Hi Sha! Thanks for your input, I’ve updated the article based on your feedback. Truthfully, I would stick with Imperfect Foods. The quality was MUCH better there, it’s more flexible, has a better variety. The packaging seems to be ever-changing which indicates to me that they may be working on getting it just right.
Rebekah says
This was very helpful in determining whether to try misfit foods. I am not always able to make meals according to my plans and often have to shift a few days, so it helps to know this won’t be a good fit for our family.
Appreciate your thoughtfulness and effort.
Kristen says
So glad it helped!
Asdis Skagen says
I have ordered, and subsequently cancelled, services from this company twice over 2021-2022.
I really like the idea of food delivery using items that would otherwise go to waste. In execution, though, this company fails to meet even minimal expectations for service.
I will give a sampling of two of eight issues that occurred with with just my last 2 orders. For example, I ordered 2 pkgs (8 oz) Organic Valley Cheddar Cheese for over $10 and 2 pkgs (6 oz) Roth Cheddar Cheese for about $8. What I received was 4 pkgs of Roth Cheddar cheese, with no indication on my account that a substitute had been given, and no refund of the difference. Another example is my order of chicken broth – didn’t receive, didn’t get a refund, and there was no “substitution” of anything comparable.
I wish I had checked with the BBB reviews before giving this company my money, as it has a horrible overall rating and the examples given above pale in comparison to some that were indicated on the BBB review site.
Kristen says
Wow! That does sound like a bad experience. Have you tried Imperfect Foods?
Roberta Young says
Misfits Is No Longer Worthwhile For Me.
I started using Misfits two years ago – in November 2020. My interest was mainly with organic vegetables and fruits. I loved the prices, quality and variety and I became a regular customer. They sometimes made mistakes – missing items or damaged items. But Customer Support is excellent, always giving a refund for any missing or damaged items – no questions asked.
There were some items that never beat my local supermarket prices e.g. organic carrots & organic apples. But with the huge variety to choose from that was never a problem; there were always plenty of other items.
Then came the $30 minimum. Shipping fees increased from $4.50 to $7. And with inflation, a 99 cent organic cucumber is now $1.79. Add the shipping fee and Misfits is no longer in the least bit economical. I can’t remember the last time I placed an order with them.
Kristen says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Roberta
Tyne says
I’ve canceled my plan with misfits several times over the years and was considering renewing today. I loved the variety in produce I received, sometimes.
As you pointed out, you have to use the produce immediately or it goes to waste and I recall that being one of my biggest gripes. It’s very inconvenient to suddenly have to bake, peel, juice, and sauce everything immediately!
Secondly, too often my box came with an exuberant amount of potatoes, apples, and lemons because they’d be out of produce I’d requested. I ended up with so many of these items that I had to pause my subscription.
Last, often with these substitutes or missing items I’d received no alert from them that there had been a change. They were always quick to refund or credit my account once I’d reached out to them, but having to always be so attentive was again an inconvenience. Decidedly, I won’t be renewing but thank you for your review!