Freakish shaped vegetables no longer have to feel bad about their quirks, because now at Meijer, they’re cheaper than the “perfects”.

Meijer is now offering a new line of “Misfits” produce, which is the odd shaped, miscolored and sometimes smaller produce items, that up until now would be thrown out or never make it to the store.  The new “Misfit” produce will be 20-40% off the regular price.

“Meijer offers more than 600 types of produce, so the Misfits program has been an incredible extension to our overall selection,” said Peter Vail, Vice President of Produce, Deli and Bakery for Meijer. “There is an inner beauty of this perfectly-imperfect produce. Our customers have responded well to the produce made available through the Misfits program.”

 

The Misfits program also puts Meijer in line with a goal the USDA has of reducing food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030. The program is a partnership with Robinson Fresh, a company that works with farms to help sell fruits and vegetables that might not be sold to stores because of their appearance, while still being an otherwise good piece of produce.

“We understand there is produce left in the field because farmers don’t think there is a market for it,” says Craig Arneson, Robinson Fresh general manager of the north region. “With the Misfits program, farmers have an outlet to sell more produce and customers have an opportunity to save money and help reduce waste.”

 

The Misfits sections appeared in Meijer stores earlier this month and already they’ve sold around a quarter of a million pounds of “Misfits” produce.  Just remember, because you can't predict how many wonky Bell Peppers you'll have, the produce selection varies week to week.

 

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