It’s no secret that fresh, seasonal, farm-to-table produce tastes way better than the fruits and vegetables you find at the supermarket. The issue is, most people don’t have time to get to a local farmer’s market, and definitely not on a consistent basis.
But rather than settle for overpriced, not-as-fresh produce from the grocery store, today you can get fresh, farmer’s-market-quality produce delivered right to your door. What’s more, the plethora of these services means that you get to be selective about the company you choose.
Even though the fresh produce delivery world is quite a niche market, within this niche are further specialties. There are companies that specialize in “rescuing” produce that doesn’t look so great, but is still full of flavor. These companies sell boxes of this rescued produce at much lower costs than you would find at the supermarket.
Other companies focus on organic produce, specialty items, or produce that’s ideal for juicing or cooking. The type of produce delivery box you order will depend on what you choose to do with your fresh fruits and veggies.
Imperfect Foods sources aesthetically imperfect and surplus produce directly from farmers and delivers it to customers’ doors, usually at 30% less than grocery store costs. While the produce may not be the prettiest to look at, it doesn’t lack for flavor.
Options for delivery include a Regular Box that includes fresh, seasonal produce and an Organic Box that include similar organic items. Customers have the option to add meat, fish, dairy, grains, and snacks to their orders. Orders can be canceled at any time and boxes can be edited each week.
FarmBox Direct was launched by a single mother living in NYC who didn’t always have time to get to the farmer’s market. Through FarmBox Direct, she now sources produce from local farmers so customers know they are getting the most natural and fresh fruit and veggies possible.
There are different fruit and vegetable delivery boxes available, including Natural, Organic, and Juicing, and all come in sizes small, medium, and large. Each box allows up to 5 substitutions with the option to add grocery and artisanal items. Customers can customize their own schedule and no commitment is required.
The Fruit Guys started out as a fruit box delivery service in San Francisco with the goal of providing workplaces with healthy food. Today, it is a Certified B Corporation, which means it meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and accountability.
The certification reflects the values that the company has embodied since its inception in 1998: to support U.S. farms, combat hunger, and create a healthier workplace. The Fruit Guys donates a minimum of 20% of its annual profits toward fighting hunger and sustainable farming practices.
Now for the actual produce: The Fruit Guys prides itself on sourcing produce from small, local farms that don’t use GMOs. There are 4 boxes to choose from: Fresh Fruit, Fruit & Veggies, Healthy Snacks, and seasonal boxes that vary by season. Boxes can be purchased as a one-off, or as a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly subscription.
Misfits Market shows that produce doesn’t need to look amazing to taste amazing. Similar to Imperfect Foods, Misfits Market sources fresh fruits and vegetables that won’t win any beauty contests, but they are full of flavor, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, they cost up to 40% less than grocery store produce. Customers can choose between a small box — The Mischief — and a larger box — The Madness.
The difference is purely in weight, and you can choose your schedule of fresh vegetables delivery to be weekly or bi-weekly. Customization is not possible, though the website is updated regularly with produce that’s been “rescued” so customers can have an idea of what to expect. All produce is organic and non-GMO.
Traditionally known for its healthy smoothies and cleanses, Raw Generation also offers fresh produce delivery. At 25 pounds each,Raw Generation makes one of the largest fruit and vegetable delivery boxes, and customers can choose whether they want only fruits, only vegetables, or a combination.
Once they choose the general description, no further customization is possible. The produce is sourced fresh from local farms and is ideal for juicing and soups. But beware: this product is so popular, it sometimes gets sold out!
The Ohio-based, family-run farm, The Chef’s Garden, made a name for itself by supplying produce to world-famous chefs. Today, it offers fresh vegetables, herbs, and microgreens delivered to your doorstep via Farmer Jones Farm. The farming method combines traditional farming methods with innovative technology so that the produce customers receive is fresh, nutritionally-dense, and has a long shelf-life.
Customers can choose from over 10 boxes plus a gift card option. Some boxes are purely vegetables while others offer a combination: caviar and vegetables, lamb loin chops and vegetables, ground lamb and vegetables, and more. Boxes can be ordered as one-time purchases or via a subscription with savings of 5%.
If you thought it’s impossible to get organic fruits and vegetables delivered to your home, think again. Farm Fresh to You is a family farm that’s been operating since the 1970s, and today, it offers 100% certified organic produce delivery right to your home.
Farm Fresh to You offers a lot of customization options, from the type of box you choose (fruit, vegetables, combo) to the specific items that go in your box. Farm products like hand-crafted jam, artisan olive oil, and pasture-raised eggs are also available. Box type, size, and delivery frequency can be changed at will.
Melissa’s Produce is a company that’s known for its specialty items like ginger root, Hatch peppers, tropical dragon fruit, and more. In fact, Melissa’s is the go-to source for specialty produce for both restaurants and supermarkets. It currently offers a variety of different produce boxes that can be delivered right to your door.
Boxes include produce for juicing, keto friendly items, only fruits, only vegetables, fruits and vegetables, and a purification box. Boxes cannot be customized but customers know what they are getting with each order. Additionally, you can decide when your produce boxes get delivered, with a choice of a one-off order or recurring weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly subscriptions.
Perfectly Imperfect Produce is a company that is backed by an environmental mission. Supermarkets often reject produce that doesn’t look pretty, which leads to throwing out an excessive amount of good food. Enter Perfectly Imperfect Produce, which “rescues” such produce from local farms and wholesalers, reduces waste, and allows people to have easy access to healthy food.
Boxes include mixes of fruits and vegetables, fruit-only, vegetable-only, and a choice of organic or not. There is also a box that comes with “perfectly prepped” veggies and fruit, which can range from spiralized zucchini to cut-up carrot sticks to a full stir-fry kit. You can choose how often you receive deliveries and cancel your subscription at any time.
Harvie.farm is a bit different than the other produce delivery services. Rather than act as a seller of fresh produce, it serves as a connector between consumers and local farms, giving consumers access to fresh produce while helping eliminate waste and supporting local businesses.
It’s a win-win situation for farmers and anyone who wants to eat healthy. Consumers who buy produce through Harvie.farm farmers get customized produce boxes, weekly payment plans, recipe suggestions, and more.
Whether you use a produce delivery service to get organic produce that’s not available locally, enjoy full boxes of cooking or juicing vegetables, or make a difference in the world, you have a wide selection of companies to choose from.
Fortunately, when you choose one of the top 10 fresh produce delivery services, you know you’re getting produce from the most natural sources possible.
