Several days ago, in the midst of an online retail therapy session, I decided to sign up for Misfits Market, a produce delivery service new to my area. Misfits Market offers organic, non-GMO produce at a fraction of supermarket prices because all items are slightly ugly (i.e., not pristine enough to be sold in stores). I love that its mission is to reduce food waste, and of course I love a good bargain, particularly on food. I am also attracted to the “surprise” factor in that you don’t know what you’ll receive each week, which encourages creativity and facilitates a diverse diet, both of which are key to well-being, in my humble opinion. It’s a service similar to the CSA (<-click for a re-cap of what we received each week for the whole season) we received last year, but frankly, less expensive and less likely to have weird selections (don’t get me started on those dang fava beans last year…).

I decided to jump in and order their bigger box (“The Madness”) for $35, although I found a coupon code to get me 20% off my first order. There was a bit of a delay in receiving our order due to high demand related to COVID-19, but we finally received our first box this afternoon.

Much to my delight there were TWO layers of vegetables in the box, thoughtfully packed with potatoes, onions, and hardier items on the bottom. I was honestly a bit astonished at the quantity of food in the box.

Considering all items are organic, this amount of produce at the store easily could have cost $70. As Seth can attest, I was downright giddy un-boxing all these items.

There was no packing list in the box, so here’s what we received based on my best guess:

• green leaf lettuce
• radishes
• Lacinato kale
• turnips
• Gala apples
• yellow summer squash
• mangoes
• Russet potatoes
• butternut squash
• oranges
• yellow onions
• poblano peppers (?)
• carrots
• beets

Highlights include the apples and mangoes (Caleb’s and Seth’s favorites, respectively), as well as the Lacinato kale for me. We’re not so psyched about the turnips and radishes, but we’ll find a way to eat them, I’m sure.

Time will tell on the quality of the produce, but at first glance, all seems to be decent and certainly edible; the summer squash looks to be the most in need of immediate consumption. A+ for variety and value, though.

I’m looking forward to picking out some recipes for this week’s meal plan using these items!