Buzz
The National Resources Defense Council reports that nearly 40% of food in the United States goes uneaten. This is due to several factors: restaurants prepare excess food they can’t sell, grocery stores overstock to appear plentiful, and farmers are unable to sell imperfect or unattractive produce. Much of this uneaten food ends up in landfills, rotting and releasing methane, as explained by the NRDC.
To address this growing food waste problem, a variety of mobile apps have emerged that connect individuals with surplus food to others willing to purchase it. Additionally, these foods are typically offered at steep discounts, allowing you to save money while also contributing positively to the planet. While you won’t fix the climate crisis, you'll be enjoying meals with a smaller carbon footprint. Here are five apps you should try.
Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods is a weekly grocery delivery service that provides discounted food items, often those kept off shelves due to minor cosmetic imperfections, unusual sizes, or excess inventory. Their selection includes produce, pantry essentials, dairy products, snacks, meat, and fish. There’s no sign-up fee, but each order comes with a $5.99 delivery charge (unless your order totals more than $60, in which case shipping is free).
Delivery schedules depend on your zip code, so using the service effectively requires a bit of planning. However, the company's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 might make you feel good about choosing it over options like Amazon Pantry. Imperfect Foods operates in 33 states, and you can view their coverage map to check if your area is included.
Too Good to Go
Too Good to Go is an app that connects users with restaurants and stores offering surplus food at the end of the day. Customers can select a restaurant to pick up a “surprise bag” of leftover food at a discounted price, which they can collect within a set time window. It’s perfect for those who aren't too picky and want restaurant-quality meals at a fraction of the cost.
I personally use this app, and I find that pizza places often offer the best deals. You’ll typically get a wide variety of leftover slices at the end of their day. Too Good to Go operates across the U.S., including states like California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, New York, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Virginia, as well as several countries in Europe.
Misfits Market
Misfits Market is an online grocery store that partners directly with farmers and food producers to provide produce, meat, seafood, pantry essentials, and other grocery items that would typically be wasted. They offer a 40% discount on most products compared to traditional grocery stores. Membership is free, and you can place a weekly order during a set three-day shopping window. Each delivery, however, incurs a $6.99 fee. Misfits Market serves 48 states (Alaska and Hawaii are excluded), though you can join their waitlist if they don't yet deliver to your area.
Hungry Harvest
Hungry Harvest is a fantastic option for affordable fruit and vegetable delivery, with no delivery charge on orders over $30. They provide discounted produce in pre-packed boxes starting at $15, or you can customize your order to suit your preferences. Hungry Harvest currently operates in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan.
Flashfood
Flashfood gives users the opportunity to find discounts of up to 50% at local grocery stores. The discounted items are typically nearing their expiration or “best sell by” dates, which means it’s important to have a plan to use them quickly before they spoil (though these dates don't always mean a lot).
Unlike other food waste apps, Flashfood requires customers to pick up their orders at the store rather than offering delivery. The app is available in Kentucky, Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, as well as Canadian provinces like Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Newfoundland.
