All about Hungry Harvest (my new favorite produce box!)
This post contains a discount code that's tied to an affiliate program, but it is not sponsored. I was a Hungry Harvest customer before they reached out to me (and I still am a paying customer!).
As you all know, I've had a produce delivery box service for a while, mainly because I liked that it forced me to prepare some produce that's outside my normal comfort zone.
My box was a little on the expensive side, though, so when a reader emailed to tell me about Hungry Harvest, (read to the end of the post for a discount code!) I signed up for their wait list.
Months went by and I kind of forgot about the whole thing until I got an email saying they'd expanded into my area. Whee!
I've been a Hungry Harvest customer for several months now, and I'm lovin' it.
Hungry Harvest has all the upsides of my old produce delivery service with a bunch of other advantages (it's less than half the price, for starters!)
What's Hungry Harvest?
Hungry Harvest is an east coast startup (You may have seen it on Shark Tank!) that rescues ugly or excess produce and delivers it to customers so that it stays out of landfills.
This makes my heart so happy.
I've been working on my own personal food waste for years now, but it's been frustrating to me that I can't do anything about the massive waste that happens before food even hits the grocery stores.
But now, thanks to Hungry Harvest, I can! Produce that was headed for the landfill can be on my table instead, which is perfect.
And because of the power in numbers, Hungry Harvest can save hundreds of pounds of food from the landfill each week.
How much does it cost?
That depends, but boxes start at just $15, delivered.
You can choose from a regular harvest, organic harvest, all-veggie harvest, or all-fruit harvest.
And for each of those options, they've got a mini, full, and super size.
Click here to see all the options and pricing.
What if I get produce that I hate?
You can prevent this! When you sign up, you can opt out of any produce varieties that you don't want.
For instance, I put eggplant on my "never" list, so when eggplant is on the produce box list for the week, they substitute something else for me.
You can also use this feature to opt out of produce varieties you like to get elsewhere (for example, maybe you don't want tomatoes in the summer while your garden is producing.)
What if I don't want a delivery every week?
You can choose an every-other-week option instead, and if you need to cancel a week here and there, that's easy to do.
For instance, I was out of town for two deliveries in April, so I just cancelled those and was good to go.
It's super flexible!
Where does Hungry Harvest deliver?
Right now, their biggest presence is around cities in the Mid-Atlantic area of the east coast (from Philly to VA), but they're steadily expanding up and down the coast. You can check if they're available by entering your zip code here.
(They told me Richmond is coming soon. And so are New York and Miami!)
Is the food good?
Yup! While some of it looks a little odd (small squashes, crooked carrots, etc.), much of it isn't even ugly. It's just excess produce that needs to find a home because no grocery stores wanted it.
Does the food come in packaging?
It depends. As you can see from the photos in this post, most of the stuff in my boxes is unpackaged.
But not always.
For instance, a grower might have an excess of shrink-wrapped cucumbers, and Hungry Harvest will rescue them. So, then you'll get a shrink-wrapped cucumber.
That's not my favorite way to buy cucumbers, but it is WAY better to eat the shrink-wrapped cucumber than to have it hit the landfill, because food production consumes more resources than shrink-wrap production does.
And food waste in landfills is a large producer of methane, which means that focusing on eating food instead of throwing it out is super important.
What if they're not in my area?
You should totally sign up for their wait-list right here.
Hungry Harvest decides where to expand based on what they see on their wait-lists, so you can actually bring Hungry Harvest to your town by signing up.
And it couldn't hurt to get your neighbors on the wait-list too. 😉 Bring food-waste prevention to your city!
Get $5 off your first harvest!
To get signed up, visit Hungry Harvest, choose a delivery option, and enter code FRUGALGIRL5 (expires June 1, 2018) in the discount code box.
You'll get $5 off your first box, and you'll be on your way to rescuing perfectly good produce.
Got more questions?
If I missed something important, let me know.
And if you have a Hungry Harvest question I can't answer, I can ask my contact at Hungry Harvest. So, ask away!
Some people might think, "Why isn't that excess donated to needy folks." BUT my father volunteers at a food bank. He picks up the same type of produce from grocery stores-- lots and lots of good (if not ugly sometimes) produce. But the food bank no longer offers the produce if it's past its "date," so sometimes my father comes home with the stuff that will be thrown away.
And those who use the pantry don't select the produce. Raspberries, once. Rasp-delicious-berries! Not rotten. Nothing that needed prepared. Just the date was past.
So, while I can't do Hungry Harvest, I am completely loving the idea of the food not going to waste. What a great idea!
Our food bank network does partner with something like this with local producers, but only for things that store and transport easily. That means a lot of cabbages and grapefruit.
I suspect that this varies between food banks. My local food bank receives an abundance of fresh produce (especially hardy foods like potatoes, carrots, beets, onions) that it distributes to clients. They get volunteers to sort through it regularly to make sure that any bad items are removed to prevent spoiling large amounts. They don't use a "best before" date, but rather look at the appearance of food to determine whether it can be donated.
In terms of why people using food banks may not choose produce, inability to use it is a big issue. Many clients in my city live in rooming houses or motel rooms with little or no access to refrigeration or cooking facilities, making it difficult to use it. Many people who grew up in poverty also aren't accustomed to eating produce, as they typically haven't been able to afford to buy it, so they may pass on produce even when it is available simply due to lack of familiarity with it.
I've thought of this, too. I've often wondered how to help people become familiar with healthier foods. Growing up in an area where iceberg lettuce was the only lettuce I remember being available in stores, I know exposure is a big part of it. Could a food bank prepare free samples for tasting? (I imagine this would set up all sorts of health department issues. . . ) Set out recipes? I know we can't fix all problems, but when I see such waste and such need for healthier diets. . . I just wish 🙂
I think improving school breakfast/lunch programs would be a good start. Replacing some of the pre-packaged and deep-fried foods with healthy, fresh foods would expose kids to better food choices and help them to develop a preference for healthy foods.
Also, it's my understanding that many of the unhealthy foods (like high-fructose corn syrup) are heavily subsidized through agricultural subsidies. Redirecting some of the money to growing and selling healthy foods could also help to lower the cost and improve access.
I think I'm on a rant...sorry Kristen!
Their web site does say they donate as well! "For every harvest we deliver, we donate 2 pounds of produce to help feed someone in need."
Read more at http://www.hungryharvest.net/donationpartners/#zZYcZ53JBezSVOiR.99
This is so great. I mean, they don't operate here (and never will because even if every single one of my neighbors signed up, it would still only be like a dozen people in a ten-mile radius :-), but if I lived somewhere where they did, I would definitely sign up.
I love this idea! One question - is the produce usually fresh enough to last a few days (as long as the usual grocery store produce)? I ask because I've been buying from the "ugly produce" rack at our grocery store, which is great, but I need to plan accordingly because that produce always needs to be used up faster than usual. Since Hungry Harvest rescues produce that grocery stores don't want, I just wondered if similar constraints apply. Thanks!
I'm also a Hungry Harvest subscriber (since March-ish), and I haven't noticed that the produce goes bad any more quickly than what I've purchased from the grocery store. One thing that I like about them is that they will text you when your Harvest is on its way and when its been delivered, so it won't be sitting outside wilting (hello, smooshy strawberries).
I agree...nothing in my several deliveries has looked like it would go bad anytime soon. I've used it at the same speed as I did my grocery purchases with no problem!
Kristen - thanks for sharing the link! It's nice to give something back to you. Which "harvest" has your family picked?
I have the fruit/veggie mixed small box right now, but I'm thinking of upgrading to the larger box.
I think this is an awesome startup company. It helps save money and protect the environment. It's great that you're part of it. I'll need to look more closely at the prices and what they have to offer. I also don't mind not pretty-looking veggies and fruit. And it's sad that not being beautiful is disadvantageous to even fruit.
This is such an awesome concept! They aren't in my neck of the woods yet (NE Ohio), but I signed up for their waitlist!
I'm sad that this is only on the East coast! I remember checking it out a few weeks ago in the hope that they'll deliver to Texas. One day! I really, really love how this company rescues food from the landfill. It's such a shame that so much edible food goes to waste before it even gets a chance to be sold. Way to be a part of the solution! 🙂
Thanks! I just went and signed up and ordered my first mini harvest, however, it told me the coupon code was not good? Does it have to be a certain amount to qualify?
I'm looking forward to getting our first box!
Thanks!
Just coming back to say that I emailed them regarding the coupon code issue, and they responded immediately saying there was a technical issue, which they corrected. They were happy to give me the 25% off. Great customer service, too!
Yay! I'm so glad.
I'm also a Hungry Harvest subscriber (have been for a little over a month). I live in the DC suburbs and like it so far. It stretches my meal-planning and my girls' palates (2 and 6 - although its mostly me eating the stuff they decided they don't like, still, more fruit and veg in my diet is not a bad thing either). I have an added delivery fee since my orders are usually under $20 (I think my fee is $2), but I'll stick with this, as I like the concept and the variety.
Thank you for the review. I have been debating it ever since you first mentioned it - your coupon code helped me make a decision 🙂 We'll get our first delivery on Monday. I'm excited!
I've been with Hungry Harvest for about 6 weeks. I looked it up after you mentioned it and when they recently sent me a survey asking how I heard about them, I mentioned your blog.
I love the idea of this. I hate waste, especially when we can do something about it. I enjoy being surprised by what's delivered and I have tried things I would not normally buy. Thank goodness for Google, where I can find a variety of recipes.
I signed up for Imperfect Produce here in California and its the best purchase I've ever made. You can pick what you get in your box from a list of items they have available for that week. Shows up right on time and lasts for days. I've been exposed to so many different types of produce since getting it that I never knew existed. If you live in CA, I highly recommend it.
Thank you!! I love in California, I will definitely check out imperfect produce!
I grew up in Colorado eating the ugly produce that would be marked down at our local grocery store. My mom often brought home big bags of cukes that we'd quickly make into greek salad so they'd last a bit longer, bananas that we'd freeze for banana bread, etc.
My aunt in Utah once struck a deal with her local tiny grocer to buy all their old bread and produce for $10 a week (which she split with a neighbor). They ate anything usable and fed the rest to their pigs. I helped pick it up while on vacation, and we got half a pickup bed full of food!
I would love to find a way to rescue produce here in Idaho! I wonder if there are any programs in the works here.
This sounds great. I get a produce box now, but it is a little pricey. I love right between Philly and NYC, so there's hope it could be here soon! I would miss the delicious grass fed milk I get with the other box though. Do they pack it with insulated boxes/bags or anything to help keep it fresh in the summer heat and not freeze in the winter?
Oooh, it does sound like there's a very good chance they'll come your way. Yay!
I just started subscribing this spring, so I haven't been with them thru any crazy weather yet, and I'm not sure if they have any climate control packaging. They deliver mine early on Saturday mornings, though, so I'm pretty much always here when it gets delivered.
Just to add to this...I get my deliveries on Fridays and it comes in a heavy-duty box, but not insulated. I DO get a text message they are on their way to my house and then I get another text that it has been delivered. Luckily I usually work from home on Fridays and I'm home for delivery but the text messages could help me ask a neighbor/friend to assist if I couldn't get to it in a timely manner in too hot/cold weather. It's possible they change the box/packaging for bad weather but I haven't experienced it yet either.
This sounds great, and I hope it gets here. I'll check the link out. We grow some produce, but still buy a lot, and the fact that they carry organic is great!
But Kristen -- no eggplant parmesan, no fried eggplant, no baba ghanoush? I love eggplant! But to each his own, or her own, right?
Yeah, I've tried eggplant several different ways and I am just not a fan. That and okra are two foods I really don't love. But other than that, I'll eat just about anything!
What size box do you get?
Thanks for the review. It sounds easy to use. I hope they expand to my area.
So far, I've just gotten the small box, as I figured I'd just go small while I was trying it out. But I'm thinking maybe I'll try the larger box now.
Wow! This sounds like an amazing company! I'm guessing it will be a while before they make it out to Denver, but a girl can dream. I have to say, as a person who suffers from a variety of weird food allergies, the fact that you can opt out of certain types of produce makes this really attractive to me. That's the primary reason I can't do most box type services - I end up having to "rehome" (or attempt to) a good 30% of what I get, which makes it not such a good deal, plus if I can't find someone to take it, I end up wasting the food, which I hate. I'm hoping this company thrives!
I know; me too! I hope they thrive and grow, and I'm gonna do my part to spread the word so that they can be successful.
Hopefully more start-ups will sprout up with this kind of business model so that excess food all over the country can get into the hands (or mouths!) of people who can use it.
I really hope they come to Atlanta and suburbs soon. I signed up on their wait list when you posted something about them a while back.
Regarding the food packaging: I'd rather buy unpackaged food, too. But, that rescued food is already packaged. The food and its packaging are headed for the landfill. Isn't it better to rescue the packaged food? You can eat the food, plus the packaging might have a good shot at getting recycled if it comes to your home. There is no way it gets recycled if it is going from the warehouse to the dump.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I sometimes buy the bagged-up ugly produce grab bags at Kroger, and I always feel like I've scored. For example, I bought four yellow bell peppers and an undersized cucumber for 99 cents. Sweet!
Yup, that's exactly how I feel about the packaged food. Better to eat it than not once it's already packaged.
Kristen, how does the cost of this compare with Aldi's prices for produce?
Thanks!
It's a little difficult to compare, because sometimes my box contains things that Aldi doesn't sell. But for the most part, I find the prices to be pretty on par with Aldi, which is a high compliment.
I wish we had something like this available where I live . I recently checked into similar type programs but they were incredibly more expensive than what you show available. I hope to have some container gardens growing this summer and a square garden next year. Many years ago I worked for a well named grocery store while in high school. They tossed everything in the trash . Recently I was in the same chain store and they were doing the same thing. 30 years later and the meat clerk is walking down the meat case tossing packages of meat into a trash can. Apparently it is just to much of a liability for them to donate anything. You know, someone might turn green and die. Meanwhile we have several shelters, food kitchens and pantries that could be served. Homeless, abused and even neglected children that are deprived and a community that struggles to support them. It is appalling and I wonder if that is what BOB had in mind when he started the chain.
Is it possible to switch between sizes? Can you get a large box once, then three small for example? I'm closer to kristin@ going country than you, but I like to plan ahead.
Yep, you can change it up as often as you want!
This looks like far better value than a similar company (Naked and Fresh)
that does boxes here in Australia. I eventually ended getting boxes
because they kept putting in stuff that was wilted and often going off.
As much as I wanted to support the scheme, I couldn't justify paying
good money for bad produce!
This is an awesome company! I signed up for the wait list (fingers crossed).
Kristen,
I'd be curious to know how you meal plan with the box. Do you look for recipes that will match with what the box sends you each week (for example, if they send 1 lb of potatoes, do you search for recipes that call for just that amount)? Or do you supplement with grocery store purchases? I'd love to try Hungry Harvest, but I'm not quite sure how I'd coordinate my meal planning with it.
Yup, that's kind of how I do it! You get an email ahead of time that lets you know what'll be in your box, so you can plan to use what shows up.
In the Chicago area, we have some Mexican groceries that have great produce for great low prices. It's so much fresher and cheaper than the regular chain stores. If anyone in other areas has these, I'd say check it out!
Thanks so much for mentioning this, I signed up today and got my 25% off and have a box coming Sunday. The idea really really appeals to me and its way cheaper than the farm CSA I had tried last year, which ended up also being way too much for our family and often going to waste---the OPPOSITE of everything I believe in 🙂
I think this is a wonderful idea and I can' wait for it to come to the NYC area. I feel no one in the US should ever be hungry and this is a step in the right direction. I also wish they would come to open markets in the area and I would purchase the produce that way too.