I have ordered boxes of organic produce from Misfits Market a few times now, per the recommendation of my sister-in-law. Since I get asked a lot about how to save money on healthy food, especially organic, I thought I’d share my experience with you on getting organic produce via Misfits Markets at reduced prices.
What is Misfits Market?
Misfits Market describes their company on their website: “Where some see ugly produce and throw it away, we see delicious food that just needs some love. Misfits sources high-quality, fresh produce from our partners. You choose your box size and delivery frequency. We deliver your box of Misfits to your door each week.”
Misfits Market is an incredible company that helps reduce food waste while being a grocery delivery service for specific communities.
My first order brought me a box full of produce. Here is my honest Misfits Market review. When I first opened the box up – a HUGE bunch of fresh, organic imperfect produce (including carrots ready to be eaten by my 5 year old who loves carrots) was waiting for my family!
Here is the complete list of grocery items that came in my most recent Misfits size box. These produce items saved me time from going grocery shopping and I cant wait to cook with this produce:
- 3 apples (don’t know what kind)
- 1 bunch of fresh Italian parsley
- 2 small oranges
- large bunch of carrots
- 6 baby potatoes
- 1 small butternut squash
- 9 sweet potatoes
- 2 yellow squash
- 2 green zucchini
- 1 eggplant
- 2 avocados
- 2 small Radicchio heads
**UPDATE AS OF 1/3/22
You CAN select your own produce now for your boxes and no longer need to rely on mystery boxes each time you order. They also offer a much WIDER range of organic food products such as coffee, pasta, gluten free items, dried fruits, nuts, and more!
Is there a Misfits Market Promo Code? Yes there is!
Normally the cost of this Mischief box (priced at $19) including shipping is $28.25 But with your first box, you can get 25% off when you use promo code COOKWME-GS2WMB.
My first box cost me $23.35, including shipping, with that 25% off discount.
This will start your subscription service with this produce delivery service company, helping local farmers.
Is Misfits Market Actually Cheaper?
I decided to see just how much of a savings I truly was getting by “eating ugly” with this Misfits Market subscription box and did a full price compare to Wegmans: (prices vary by store and what is in season and price matched the best I could compared to the amount I received in the box).
If this was my first box, (with the 25% discount) I saved about $10! If I didn’t get the 25% off, then it would have only been about a $5 savings. But each box is different and I know another box I price compared in my Facebook Live video I did here – the savings were more.
Standard Prices of Produce at Wegmans Grocery Store.
- 3 organic apples = $2.99
- 1 bunch of fresh italian parsley = $1.49
- 2 small oranges = $1.90
- large bunch of carrots = $1.49
- 6 baby potatoes = $2.50
- 1 small butternut squash = $1.69
- 9 sweet potatoes = $6.99
- 2 yellow squash = $3.98
- 2 green zuccini = $3.98
- 1 eggplant = $2.49
- 2 avocados = $4.50
- 2 small Radicchio heads = $2.75
Total = $32.77 (Wegmans) vs my first box = $23.35 (savings of about $10).
The first time you get a box, you’ll get a card explaining what’s in the box, a place to find recipes applicable to the produce in your box, and about its very eco-friendly packaging!
The produce inside the box changes each week. You may find bell peppers, carrots, celery, brussels sprouts, ugly fruits and more.
(Again, as of 2021, you can now CHOOSE what produce goes into each of your boxes!)
Overall – here is what I like about Misfits Market:
- It’s cheaper organic fruits and vegetables compared to Wegmans, and it’s delivered right to my door.
- The packaging is very eco-friendly with dissolvable padding, recyclable plastic or compostable “plastic” and a recyclable box. Even the ice pack it came with was labeled “drain friendly.” So I just poured the contents down the drain because I didn’t need another ice pack.
- I can now select which fruits and vegetables and other healthy products go in my box, which was not a feature offered when I first tried it.
- It’s a great way to get fresh, organic produce in the middle of winter at reduced prices – especially when it’s not in season.
- It forces me to try new recipes that I may not otherwise try. For example, I chopped up the Raddicio leaves and sauteed them in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper and it was really yummy! (I liked it anyway – my kids hated it though because Raddicio is more bitter than spinach.)
What I wish was a bit different about Misfits Market:
- Sometimes I don’t use all that I get – for example from one box I used only 3 out of 7 limes I got in one box. I couldn’t use them up before they went bad. I got a bunch of Italian parsley that I may only use once (I need an herb dehydrator) – before the majority of the bunch wilted and went into the compost pile.
- Since this produce has been set aside as not the highest quality, it for sure spoils faster than if I were to buy fresh produce from my store that day. So you need a plan to use what your order the same week it arrives, otherwise freeze it if you can.
- The sweet potatoes that came in my most recent box, two of the small ones had enough holes in them (from bugs?) that I just put them in the compost pile. An ugly shaped sweet potato I’m fine with. But if it’s “ugly” because it has bugs in it – no thanks!
In terms of specific recipes I made using my produce from this last box, I spontaneously added Zucchini Corn Chowder to the menu that week to use up the zucchini, small potatoes, and Italian parsley.
Where is Misfits Market Based?
Misfits Market is a Philadelphia-based fresh product delivery service that works with local farms to sell produce misshaped, ugly, or produce that could not sell in the local grocery store. Currently Misfits Market serves the Eastern Seaboard including:
- North Carolina
- New Hampshire
- .Rhode Island
- West Virginia
- South Carolina
- New York
- New Jersey
And growing to other delivery areas.
The Ugly Side of Misfits Market:
Even though I had a great experience with Misfits Market, there are others who have not had the same experience.
Some of the biggest complaints by past customers include the boxes arriving destroyed, moldy produce, or there is too much of one produce (such as ginger or lemons) and not enough of a variety.
I know Misfits Market has gone through some incredible transformations and growth over these last few months, which often brings changes that ultimately help us get the best produce.
Overall, if you are looking for a way to save on organic produce, then you must give this a try! Even if you don’t use everything in the box, it’s healthy, organic, and will save you time and money from shopping in the store.
Use Promo Code COOKWME-GS2WMB
Best Way To Cook Your Produce:
I own the Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking cookbook and am making a black bean & sweet potato corn chip dip to use up the sweet potatoes. (FYI – sweet potatoes are ridiculously easy to make in an Instant Pot!) I’m also trying Vegan Crunchy Baked Eggplant Bites later this week.
How Do I Cancel My Misfits Market Account?
You can cancel your account online at any time up to the day before the next recurring order in scheduled by visiting the Misfits Market Website and visit the customer account page. You’ll then click cancel subscription in your invoice tab, or you can contact support (at least two days) before the next recurring order is scheduled to invoice.
Have you tried Misfits Market? What has been your experience (let me know in the comments below)!
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Patrick Bloomquist says
our subscription to Misfit market was going well until we tried to cotact them through thier CONTACT e-mail about mold on vegetables and were ignored. then we tried e-mailing them from 2 different computers to stop delivery while we were on vacation only to have both e-mails ignored and a box of rotten produce waiting for us at the end of our vacation.
we then tried calling thier business number in Philidelphia twice leaving a message both times and receiving no response. we will now try to cancel this service by certified letter.
Maura says
Ouch! I’ve e-mailed them before and have gotten a response quickly. They have it set up now that you can skip your delivery or cancel your subscription right on their site. I think its a recent update!
H says
That is very similar to our experience with customer service. We were so excited to find this budget-friendly option for nutritious, organic food in our urban environment. And we did expect that there might be an occasional “hiccup.” But this is more of a “take your money and run” operation, in our experience.
The concept of this business is great! But they need someone ethical to run operations. This is a very bad deal.
Maura says
When was the last time you tried them?
Our produce is still hit or miss and you have to use it quickly – but we still use the service b/c we can’t find cheaper organic produce in the winter!
Wendy says
You can dehydrate herbs in the oven (cookie sheet with parchment paper, less than 180 degrees for 2-4 hours). No dehydrator needed!
Maura says
Great tip – Thanks Wendy!
Bethany Theilman says
An Air Fryer that has dehydrate setting 120 to 105 degrees works great too.
Maura says
Thanks for the tip Bethany! Never thought of that and I have an airfryer!
Linda Diggs says
Can I “Shop At”,the (Misfit Market) in my (Area).The one at 3939 Germantown Avenue.(Phila,Pa.(19140).
Maura says
I honestly can’t give you an answer on that one. Is it Misfit Market or Misfits market? They may be two different companies. Or maybe that’s a shipping warehouse for Misfits Market. As far as I know, you can only order online, but I don’t know about local stores. Stop by, check it out, and let us know!
Dana says
I have been ordering a weekly box for about 6 months now and enjoy my weekly surprise. Now you can also add certain new items to your order as well.
It is a good value.
A few times fruit was too ripe, I wrote to them and they discounted my next order, no fuss.
H says
I can’t recommend this service at this time. We spent our entire weekly grocery budget on our order (box + add-ons), and we were counting on it being delivered as agreed. The delivery was a day late; the produce was damaged, old, or unripe; and 80% of our order was missing.
We’ve had no response from customer service.
What are we supposed to feed our kids…the box?
For other budget-conscious families, this seems like a great source of nutritious food. But they simply don’t honor their commitments at this time.
Sharon Carlevale says
Well I wish my first box looked like yours!!!!! It was my first and it was my last…I got rotten and old produce…took pictures and sent them to Misfits…I got about 10.00 worth of produce on a 22.00 order….Misfits gave me 4.00 back because of the stuff that needed to be thrown in the trash but would not give me a refund…..I got 2 rubbery carrots, apples with old skin and blemishes, wilted brown lettuce soft zucchini…etc….horrible….never again…shame on this company!!!!
Martin says
We have seen one particularly LOUD and “HONEST” Review of Misfits, which was nothing but NEGATIVE. Apparently things must have changed. And after having subscribed for over four months now, we have had nothing but POSITIVE experiences each and every time. We have also regularly done “add-ons” of extra non-fresh produce (such as their KILLER Brownie Mix). Being shut-in and quarantined with Covid, our Food Boxes are a good deal, and definitely welcome on our doorstep.
Maura says
SO Glad to hear that Martin! I too have been loving the add-ons! My kids loved the cheesy puffs when they were available. I’ve received pancake mix, corn break mix, coffee, tea, peanut butter – and it has all been awesome! We need to use up some of the produce we get faster than we have b/c it does seem to spoil faster than in-store organic produce. But I guess that’s why we see such a discount. Still worth it in my opinion!
K. Carter says
I canceled our subscription after three orders. Each order arrived at least three days later than the expected delivery date ( tracked with UPS ). My last box was the last time we ordered from them- it was held on UPS truck over a four day period ( UPS was contacted, but did not take any responsibility or reason as to why ) and when it was finally delivered- of course the produce was spoiled. It was really disgusting. When I contacted Misfits, they did replace the box, but without the add-on’s I had ordered, and did a refund for them- but it was only after several calls and emails (with photos) that I finally got the satisfaction I needed. I only live 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia, so I could not figure out the reason for every delivery to be delayed to the point of spoiled produce.
Maura says
UPS has been bombarded this season and has tons of shipping delays. That’s really too bad about your order.
April Rymer says
A review of Misfits Market….. Some of you may see an ad for Misfits Market, a subscription service for “ugly” organic fruit and vegetable. We placed one order and at least half of what we received was old, withered or damaged in shipment. The option we ordered was that it was supposed to be enough for two people for a week. What we received that is usable is just enough to add to a pot of soup. When I emailed them with pictures the response was essentially that I needed to realize this is organic food and while they don’t intend to ship subpar goods the cost is normally less than what you would pay at the grocery. Oh, and they offered a 20% discount on my next order. Seriously? There will not be a next order.
Maura says
Well you arent’ the first to share an experience like this. My orders lately have contained produce that seems to spoil faster than it did over the summer. I’m thinking that UPS is still having issues with shipping delays, which ages the produce before arrival. I’m also wondering about seasonality? I don’t know. I’ve never had a box so bad though that I could only make a pot of soup. And shame on them for only giving you a 20% off discount code. Sorry this was a bad experience for you. 🙁
Carol says
I have had two months of bi-weekly orders and find the company is very responsive when I contact them with issues, questions or concerns. I’ve been given credit for non-useable produce on two occasions, and enjoy the fact that I can select exactly what I want, and double quantities of things I need more of. I grow a lot of my own veggies, but Misfits allows me to fill in the blanks, and the seasons, so I have more variety in my diet consistently.
Maura says
Thanks for your take Carol! I’m loving that now they give you the option to CHOOSE exactly what you want in your boxes, rather than having a guessing game like they did in the past. It works so much better and they are getting better and better at packaging so you don’t get squished fruit or produce upon delivery!
Margaret says
Well I have read all the reviews and I placed my order anyway. I am hoping for a wonderful experience. I will update in Feb. 2022 when my order arrives.
Maura says
Yes i would love to know! I know Misfit Markets has made many changes since I first joined – all to improve customer experience, so I hope you have a good one!
Allison says
I would love to hear about how your experience was. I have a cart full of food and the produce is what I’m mainly concerned with. I shop about once every two weeks for my family.
Maura says
They have SO MUCH MORE VARIETY than when I first joined!!! This is not just about ordering cheaper organic produce anymore. You should totally check it out!!!