Imperfect Foods

What's in the box: A weekly delivery you choose yourself from produce, meat, seafood, dairy, bakery, pantry staples and snacks, many of them surplus, cosmetically imperfect or near their best-by date.

Imperfect Foods started as a service selling produce and groceries that supermarkets pass over, and that idea still drives it. Misfits Market agreed to acquire the company in September 2022 and planned to combine the brands. The current site reflects that: its listings include Misfits Market house lines such as Odds & Ends, and the shopping experience looks a lot like its parent's. Signing up is free. You set your food preferences and get a weekly grocery delivery that you can skip or cancel at any time. The site says it carries more than 1,000 items, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, bakery, pantry staples, snacks, coffee, tea and wine. It is open about why items cost less: odd sizes, discoloration, excess inventory, outdated packaging, leftover ends and pieces, and products close to their best-by dates. That openness is welcome, but it also means you should plan to use some items quickly, and what's available will change with what suppliers have on hand. The company says it will make things right if an item falls short of its quality standards. For flexible cooks who want to cut both food waste and their grocery bill, it is a sensible weekly option. Shoppers who want the same brands every time, or who aren't sure whether they are buying from Imperfect or Misfits, may find the merged setup confusing.