Mistfits Market Review: Convenience, Price, and More (2024)

No food system can be considered flawless. However, the reality is that our current approach generates an excessive amount of food waste on a daily basis. Every day, perfectly good food is thrown away due to minor cosmetic imperfections or excess inventory. The founder of Misfits Market recognized this issue and saw an opportunity to establish an online grocery delivery service with a special purpose: to offer consumers "imperfect" or surplus produce that would otherwise go to waste.

When I learned about Misfits Market, I was immediately intrigued. The company’s mere existence is a logistical feat only the internet could produce. But I knew the backstory wouldn’t be enough to get me to alter my grocery shopping preferences. While I appreciate the idea of rescuing food, I knew that my experience as a customer would ultimately center on the quality and cost of the products and the convenience of the service. So I ordered around $80 worth of groceries to put Misfits Market to the test.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Offers both weekly subscription and à la carte plans
• Free shipping on orders over $60
• Plenty of organic options

Cons:

• Only one delivery per week
• Limited selection compared to standard retail grocery stores
• Occasional quality issues

What Is Misfits Market?

Misfits Market is an online grocery delivery service that tackles food waste by sourcing "misfit" produce directly from food producers. “Misfit” produce, while perfectly safe to eat, is often discarded for purely cosmetic reasons (i.e., a blemish, or the fruit or vegetable being too big or too small), resulting in a huge amount of food waste. Misfit Market’s founder, Abhi Ramesh, created the company after a visit to a local orchard inspired him to find a home for its surplus apples. The service initially aimed to reduce inefficiencies in the fresh produce market but soon expanded into other grocery categories. Today, the company delivers convenience and potential savings across a diverse range of items, many certified organic.

Recently, Misfits Market made headlines with its acquisition of Imperfect Foods. The deal marks a significant development in the industry, bringing together two prominent players with shared missions of combating food waste. While the brands will remain separate for the time being, this collaboration is expected to amplify the companies’ impact and offer customers a wider range of sustainable, eco-conscious grocery options. (We also compared Misfits Market to Imperfect Foods.)

How Does It Work?

Misfits Market offers two plans: an à la carte or a weekly subscription. Both require a $5 minimum order plus shipping, which varies by ZIP code, starts at $6.99, and becomes free when an order reaches $60. Weekly subscribers can customize their orders (either via the company’s website or the Misfits Market app) and receive first dibs on popular items, among other perks. When I ordered from Misfits Market, the store had approximately 600 products, many of them organic. There were a dozen grocery categories, including produce, meat, deli, bakery, and beverages. The deli category had a handful of prepared items, including meals by Snap Kitchen. A handy menu filter also allowed me to search for gluten-free products.

Due to its unique sourcing approach, the company’s ordering process diverges slightly from typical online shopping. With inventory subject to substantial weekly fluctuations, you can only place an order during the approximately 55-hour "shopping window;” mine was from 1 pm Thursday to 8:45 pm Saturday. Items can sell out, so order early. I placed my order on Friday morning, and my box arrived before 7 am on Tuesday.

Pricing

In order to make an accurate comparison of Misfit Market’s costs versus those in a typical Los Angeles supermarket, I made a chart comparing Misfits Market’s prices to the prices at my local grocery store. Of the 18 items in my Misfits order, 11 were available at both places, allowing for a direct apples-to-apples price showdown. In that contest, Misfits triumphed, beating the prices at my local spot for nine of the 11 products. For example, the organic red leaf lettuce was $1 cheaper at Misfits Market, and the Cypress Grove goat cheese was a whole $3 less than what my store offered.

Seven of my Misfits items were not available at my local store. In two cases, this was because the items were organic, and my store only had conventional produce. Surprisingly, Misfits beat the conventional price as well. One produce item, organic Romanesco, was totally unavailable at my local grocer. Where I could not make a regional comparison, I searched the internet. Misfits Market prevailed in that challenge as well. In sum, on this test order, Misfits saved me around $20 off of my typical grocery order and afforded me access to organic options that I might not otherwise have had.

Shopping

Misfits Market offers a wide variety of products. Produce, meat and seafood, eggs, dairy, deli, snacks, beverages, wine, pantry items, and even pet foods are represented. In the produce category, you’ll find all the basics, as well as rarer seasonal delicacies like heirloom tomatoes and white asparagus. In my estimation, the company does a great job balancing its mission—scavenging the margins of the food system to reduce waste—with its purpose as a convenient, budget-friendly grocery service. The result is somewhere between a farmer’s market, a small-town grocery store, and a local natural foods co-op. Though the selection is much smaller than the average grocery store, it’s certainly possible to meet most of your grocery needs with Misfits Market.

It’s also possible that you’ll find products that are unavailable elsewhere. I, for instance, could not find—locally or on the internet—a fresh chicken comparable to the 2-pound free-range bird I received from Misfits Market. It was much smaller than the chickens I typically see in stores and exceptionally flavorful. It roasted quickly and evenly, and the broth I made from its bones was outstanding. It felt like a unique find.

Packaging

Misfits Market packed my order in a large, sturdy cardboard box. Inside, the space was divided by a cardboard partition. The partition didn’t seem strictly necessary, but I suppose it helped organize and stabilize the contents. On one side of the partition was an insulated bubble wrap bag, within which were all the protein and dairy products and two large ice packs. On the other side of the partition lay most of the produce items, a few of which also sat atop the bubble bag. Some foods (like blackberries, cherries, carrots, and shallots) came in typical plastic packaging, while others (heads of lettuce and Romanesco, broccolini, pears, and apples) had no packaging. But except for the box, bag, and ice packs, the packaging was quite similar to a typical grocery run. In some areas, Misfits Market will pick up and reuse your ice packs, box liners (my order did not come with a liner), and insulated bags for free.

The Cooking Process

Shortly after receiving my order, I utilized the 14-ounce lamb stew meat by Capra Foods, whipping up an Indian-inspired spiced tomato crockpot concoction. I served it with the organic Romanesco, simply roasted, on the side. The meat, after stewing for about five hours in the crockpot, was very tender with a rich lamb flavor. For dessert, I had a bowl of organic cherries and organic blackberries. The cherries were as ripe, sweet, and juicy as any I’ve had this season. The blackberries were nothing to write home about, but they were better than the disappointingly tart, underripe blackberries I often find at my local grocery store. For lunch the next day, I prepared the organic grass-fed sirloin steak, which I seared and seasoned with salt and pepper, and one of the Cosmic Crisp apples. The steak was tender, with the mild umami typical of grass-fed beef. Next, I baked a pie from my organic Gala apples and organic autumn Bartlett pears. Then, a chicken salad with the little Mary’s free-range chicken, red leaf lettuce, the Cypress Grove chevre, and the Original Bitchin’ Sauce. I then made a broth from the chicken bones and drank it at breakfast the next day. It was, as noted above, positively succulent.

Another day I had a slice of sourdough toast and cream cheese draped with the Imperfect Foods-branded Norwegian smoked salmon (the most tangible evidence of the above-mentioned corporate acquisition that I experienced). I used my bunch of organic baby broccoli in a stir fry. Several ingredients—shallots, organic cooked red beets, and carrots—still await me. Those keeping a strict count will note there’s only one item on my order I haven’t yet mentioned: the Tache vanilla blend pistachio milk, a delightful treat, which my daughter described as tasting “like melted pistachio ice cream.”

Taste

Overall, my experience with the flavors of the food I ordered has been excellent. In fact, I’m enjoying one of my Cosmic Crisp apples as I type. It’s an excellent example of what Misfit Market has to offer. Like most of my produce, this apple has only the slightest hint of “misfit.” It’s the size: larger than your average apple, but delicious, crunchy, and juicy, nonetheless, with a mild and pleasant sweetness.

That’s not to say my order wasn’t without blemishes. The tip of one of my organic autumn Bartlett pears was softening toward rot. Yet, most of it was perfectly edible, with a texture and ripeness that was on par with what I’d expect from these items. The bulk of my products arrived in excellent shape and were more or less indistinguishable from what I’d find at my local farmers market.

Who Should Use Misfits Market?

Anyone who buys groceries might benefit from Misfits Market. Whether you’re an avid, creative cook or just want to stock your larder with prepared foods, Misfits Market likely has something for you. And since you don’t need to subscribe to browse the weekly selection, it’s worth at least taking a look. Once you do a bit of window shopping, the company will probably send you a discount code for your first order. In my humble opinion, you’d be a fool not to place one at that point.

Final Thoughts

I had a great experience with Misfits Market. I was pleasantly surprised to save money on high-quality food that was mostly organic. It was fun to find creative ways to use some of the unique ingredients. Overall, I found the experience satisfying and enjoyable. I highly recommend Misfits Market to anyone and will likely order from them again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Misfits Market Accept EBT and/or SNAP?

The company does not currently have this ability but is looking into adding that payment method through a pilot program. To be notified when this launches, Misfits Market encourages interested customers to sign up for its email newsletter.

Does Misfits Market Save You Money?

It depends on the alternatives that are available to you. If it’s important to you to eat mostly organic food, then Misfits Market probably will save you money, as long as you don’t mind limiting your options a little compared to the typical grocery store. Ordering enough to qualify for free shipping will also help you save with Misfits Market.

Does Misfits Market Charge a Delivery Fee?

Shipping is a flat rate by ZIP code that starts at $6.99 per order—orders over $60 ship for free.

Is Misfits Market Worth It?

Based on my personal experience, I found Misfits Market to be a great value, especially considering the free shipping. The ordering process was easy and enjoyable, and I was able to save money while still getting high-quality, organic food. I even used some of the ingredients to make some excellent meals.