SAN ANTONIO — Food insecurity is a huge problem in America, and San Antonio. Every year, millions of pounds of fresh produce and meats get discarded because they are not up to par with supermarkets particular standards.
- Imperfect Foods ship, delivers “ugly” foods
- Most is unwanted by big brand supermarkets
- All of it is safe to eat
The company, Imperfect Foods, is trying to help curb the amount of food going to waste in cities all over the country like right here in San Antonio. A warehouse just east of downtown opened last year, and has been giving much of the everyday food we eat a new chance to be sold. Employees at Imperfect Foods warehouse work diligently hand selecting, and carefully inspecting fruits and vegetables that would typically end up in a landfill.
"The truth is, there’s a lot more imperfect stuff than I think most people realize," said Imperfect Foods spokesperson Reilly Brock.
Nearly 40 percent of food grown and raised in the U.S. goes uneaten every year according to the National Resource Defense Council. A lot of it is safe to consume, but goes unwanted by big brand supermarkets.
"Stores didn’t want to eat ugly produce so they [Company Founders] saw the light bulb moment and said ‘This is absurd. No good food should go to waste, especially in a country where people are going hungry and don’t have access to good quality foods’," said Brock. "We’re turning what could be this waste, this supply chain inefficiency into an awesome value add for the farmer, and also savings for all of our customers."
The business model works by resourcing unwanted and surplus food from farmers and vendors. The food is good enough to eat but may be a little different in size, or has a few blemishes, such as hail damage.
The company recently expanded into meat, eggs and pantry items giving a sustainable solution to an inefficient food supply chain.
Since the company launched in 2015, more than 80-million pounds of food have been recovered.
Imperfect Foods works by ordering online on their website then selecting a home delivery date that works best for you. If you use the promotion code SPECTRUM5 you can receive $5 off your first order, plus an additional $5 will go to the San Antonio Food Bank to help feed hungry families for the holidays.