New Produce Delivery Service Aims to Combat Food Waste

In a bid to tackle the problem of food waste, California-based Imperfect Produce is launching a delivery service that ships fruit and vegetables to homes in Fresno, Merced, and Modesto, writes Fresno Bee.

What makes the company stand out of the crows is that it is part of the “ugly produce” movement. It focuses on vegetables like potatoes and fruit that don’t fit the cosmetic standards of grocery stores, either because they are too small, misshapen or have other esthetic flaws which don’t affect taste or quality.

According to data from Imperfect Produce, about 20% of vegetables and fruits in the U.S. don’t fit those standards. The produce would otherwise be wasted by going unharvested or not being sold. Nationwide, more than a third of food goes to waste, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has noted.

Imperfect Produce delivers weekly boxes of fruit and vegetables and employs its own drivers. Customers can choose from either organic or conventionally grown produce and pick the size of the box they want (varies from small to extra-large). They can also have their pick at an all-veggie box, an all-fruit box, or a mix of both.