It may be named Misfits Market, but it has nothing to do with forlorn, forgotten toys.

Instead, get to know this online subscription marketplace that aims to deliver mostly organic and non-GMO produce and other foodstuffs to your door at affordable prices — and in the process reach a wider audience and cut down on food waste.

Unlike most CSAs, you can choose what’s in your delivery box, too. Shipping is a flat rate that varies by zip code but starts at $5.99.

The company was founded in Philadelphia in 2018 by Abhi Ramesh, a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, who was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 by Ernst & Young.

The company sources from farmers and producers across the country, as well as some items such as citrus and avocados from outside the United States.

Some of the produce sold on the site may be misshapen, an unconventional size, or simply in excess. The company also recently acquired Imperfect Foods, which makes new products out of imperfect, rescued or leftover ingredients that are also available on the site.

I was invited to try the site out for free with a $75 gift card.

One drawback for some people may be the fact that you can’t pick your delivery day, which is offered only once a week. For my zip code, ordering opened up on a Sunday for delivery on Friday.

On the actual delivery day, everything arrived safely and neatly in a box that landed on my porch. The dozen large eggs ($5.05) from Imperfect Foods were wrapped in bubble wrap for extra protection.

I had ordered a pound of strawberries ($3.99) just to see what the quality would be like this late in the year. Not surprisingly, they ended up out of stock, so I wasn’t charged for them. But you don’t find out they’re missing until you get your delivery.

Some of the items on the site are a few cents higher than on, say, Good Eggs, another grocery delivery service. For instance, four Wise Sons Everything Bagels was $7.99 on Misfits Market, and $7.49 on Good Eggs.

Others were a pretty good deal: a 12-ounce bag of organic walnut halves and pieces for $6.85 from Misfits Markets’ own in-house brand, Odds & Ends; 2 pounds of organic Bartlett pears for $4.11; and half a pound of pristine sugar snap peas for $3.42.

The coup turned out to be scoring a pack of four Meatcrafters lamb sausages for $9.43, that sells for as much as $6.56 more on other sites.

Organic butternut squash (2 for $5.82) were described as being sold in an unconventional size. But as you can see from the top photo, they’re actually quite decent sized and perfect looking. Two sweet potatoes ($2.21), billed as nonconforming in size, actually ended up being four in varying lengths and diameters, which is no big deal if you plan to cut them up to roast or mash anyway.

A pack of two Niman Ranch pork loin chops wrapped in bacon and rosemary ($9.43) were labeled as being in excess supply. The price wasn’t necessarily cheaper than what I found online elsewhere for the same product. But then again, all other sellers were out of it, meaning it may be a discontinued item, which is why Misfits Market got the last of it. All I know is that once we put them on the grill, they cooked up deliciously, perfumed by rosemary and wrapped in a strip of sweet, smoky bacon.

Bottom line: If you like the convenience of grocery delivery and don’t mind spending some time on the site comparing prices, you can find some decent deals if you look carefully. Otherwise, you might not end up saving a ton of money, necessarily. However, you will have helped less food go to waste, which is always a noble endeavor.

Winner of the Food Gal Contest

In last week’s Food Gal contest, I asked you to tell me about one of your most memorable times wine-tasting anywhere.

The winner will receive a free pair of “Winter in the Wineries Passports” good for two people to use for complimentary tastings at 19 participating wineries in Calistoga, Lake County, Pope Valley, and St. Helena, from Dec. 2 to Feb. 4, 2024.

Congrats to Bill Volpe, who wrote:

“My lovely wife and I met at U.C. Davis in 1969. One our favorite springtime outings was a short trip over the hill, past Lake Berryessa, to the Napa Valley. The first stop, both by geography and by our preference, was the Nichelini Family Winery.

Typically, we were greeted by an elderly man wearing a week’s stubble, almost-clean work clothes, and a smile. We presumed him to be the owner and referred to him as ‘old man Nichelini’ because, despite his appearance, he was always the only other person around.

He’d welcome us into a rough wooden shed right off the highway, overlooking the hillside, and grab us a couple of wine glasses from a window ledge. He’d typically clean them out with a blow, to remove any residual dust or debris, and then pour each of us a large helping of red wine. He had a wonderful ability to make us feel welcome, put us at ease, make us feel that we were in the company of a friend. We sipped and enjoyed the wine and the surroundings. Great memories of simpler times, which we still share 50+ years later!”