Fruits and veggies are a good way to start a healthy, balanced diet, and studies have shown they're good for improving heart health. Yet sometimes, in the store, they've sat in the aisles for a few days, losing nutrients before they're stocked and picked up.
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Misfits Market aims to prevent food waste by delivering boxes of fruits and vegetables that maybe aren't your average shape or size -- but are still perfectly good to cook with and delicious. Plus, Misfits Market guarantees that its subscription boxes are up to 30% less than what you'd spend at your local grocery store, sourcing organic and non-GMO produce from local organic regional farms and shipping organic produce to most states and many ZIP codes. It's a deal that offers the perfect way to save money and reduce waste. Expect this produce box to offer an ever-changing selection of fruits and vegetables like leafy greens, watermelon radishes, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, apples and mangoes.
Pros
- Budget-friendly produce
- Mostly good quality
- No subscription required
- Shipping is either free or very cheap
- Lots of useful grocery add-ons
Cons
- Inventory varies wildly and some staples aren't always in stock
- Shopping must be done within a window
- Some produce was past its prime
Imperfect Foods operates as both a produce subscription as well as a grocery delivery service. Just as the name implies, this delivery service brings you imperfect food, such as misshapen carrots or oversized eggs, at a discount. Organic and conventional produce, which can be customized and altered based on your taste preferences and dietary restrictions, can be dropped off at your door, along with grocery staples and snacks, like eggs, olive oil and sausages. The brand also offers pantry item options and baked goods. Delivery is available to all of the continental United States, so put in your ZIP code to see if your location is in their delivery area.
Pros
- Good selection and low prices
- No minimum order
- Only $6 shipping fee for small orders
Cons
- Short window to shop each week
- Items can sell out fast
Need more fruit in your life? Let The Fruit Company deliver a large assortment of healthy fruit to your door. You can choose between organic fruit and conventional produce that's locally sourced from small farms that don't use GMOs. The Fruit Company produce box arrives filled with bananas, apples, oranges, kiwis and more.
Pros
- Fresh fruit delivered in two days
- Great for gifting
- Fun add-ons available
With these tested services, fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered directly to your home. Whether you’re looking for seasonal produce, organic options or even additional items like fresh eggs, dairy products, quality meats, grains and other pantry staples, we've found them. If you’re ready to skip the store and simplify your path to healthier eating, check out CNET's top picks for the best produce delivery services available today.
Pros
- Budget-friendly produce
- Mostly good quality
- No subscription required
- Shipping is either free or very cheap
- Lots of useful grocery add-ons
Cons
- Inventory varies wildly and some staples aren't always in stock
- Shopping must be done within a window
- Some produce was past its prime
Misfits Market aims to prevent food waste by delivering boxes of fruits and vegetables that maybe aren't your average shape or size -- but are still perfectly good to cook with and delicious. Plus, Misfits Market guarantees that its subscription boxes are up to 30% less than what you'd spend at your local grocery store, sourcing organic and non-GMO produce from local organic regional farms and shipping organic produce to most states and many ZIP codes. It's a deal that offers the perfect way to save money and reduce waste. Expect this produce box to offer an ever-changing selection of fruits and vegetables like leafy greens, watermelon radishes, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, apples and mangoes.
The plan:Â Misfits is an organic produce delivery starter box geared toward smaller households and can be shipped weekly or biweekly. You choose from hundreds of produce options as well as other groceries, pantry staples, meat and dairy to knock a whole bunch off your weekly shopping list. There are no membership fees. Shipping is free on orders over $60. Otherwise, it's a reasonable $6 per order.
Read more in our full review of Misfits Market.
Pros
- Good selection and low prices
- No minimum order
- Only $6 shipping fee for small orders
Cons
- Short window to shop each week
- Items can sell out fast
Imperfect Foods operates as both a produce subscription as well as a grocery delivery service. Just as the name implies, this delivery service brings you imperfect food, such as misshapen carrots or oversized eggs, at a discount. Organic and conventional produce, which can be customized and altered based on your taste preferences and dietary restrictions, can be dropped off at your door, along with grocery staples and snacks, like eggs, olive oil and sausages. The brand also offers pantry item options and baked goods. Delivery is available to all of the continental United States, so put in your ZIP code to see if your location is in their delivery area.
The plan:Â Plans are customized and priced based on your household size, whether you want organic or nonorganic produce, and if you're looking to add in grains, snacks, dairy and meat and fish. But 11 to 13 pounds of organic produce boxes start at $26 plus $6 shipping.
Pros
- Fresh fruit delivered in two days
- Great for gifting
- Fun add-ons available
Need more fruit in your life? Let The Fruit Company deliver a large assortment of healthy fruit to your door. You can choose between organic fruit and conventional produce that's locally sourced from small farms that don't use GMOs. The Fruit Company produce box arrives filled with bananas, apples, oranges, kiwis and more.
The plan:Â Choose from a slew of variety boxes, which all range in size and cost, with prices ranging from around $27 to over $280 depending on what you're looking for.
While many produce subscription services source fruits and vegetables from multiple farms, Farm Fresh To You plucks organic and sustainable items straight from its own family farm in California, Capay Organic. Simply pick a subscription box, customize the produce variety to your liking, add other farm products (like hand-crafted jam and small-batch honey), then get it delivered to your door.
The plan:Â Farm Fresh To You ships six different kinds of local produce boxes, like traditional CSA, snack pack and fruit only. Boxes range in size from mini to monster, as do the prices ($29 to $125), and you can select to have shipments arrive weekly, every other week or every three or four weeks.
Although FreshDirect is known as a grocery delivery service for everything — not just produce — the New York-based company is now offering subscription-free local farm share boxes. Partnering with Hepworth Farms, Lancaster Farm Fresh and Dig Acres, FreshDirect is allowing its Northeast customers to order produce boxes from the Hudson Valley and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The plan: Add the CSA boxes to your cart the same way you would other groceries. There are several to choose from, including the Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative local organic vegetable farm share (currently unavailable) filled with eight to ten items for $30.
Produce FAQs
How to tell if produce is fresh?
Touch and smell are critical to identify. If the produce is fresh. Firm produce is usually fresher. Additionally, the more fragrant the produce, the more flavorful it usually is.
Should fresh produce be washed?
Washing fresh produce not only removes dirt and bacteria, but also trace pesticides. It is essential to wash produce before consuming it.
How do you identify if produce has gone bad?
Indicators of food spoilage often include noticeable changes from its fresh state, such as altered color, texture, unpleasant odors, or an off-putting taste.
