In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Misfits Market home-delivery service is stepping up to better serve its workers and customers.

“I started ordering from Misfits Market over a year ago, and quite frankly, I’ve never had an issue with the quality of any of my produce.  The food is fresh, vibrant and delicious every time,” English teacher, Brian Smith, said.

Since 2018, Misfits Market has been investing in fighting food waste by partnering with farms across the country to source and redistribute their imperfect and “unsellable” produce. While it may be misshapen or overly sized, all of its produce is organic and non-GMO. More than that, it’s inexpensive. Misfits Market is up to 40% cheaper than traditional grocery store prices, and the company charges a flat rate of only $4.50 for weekly shipping.

Misfits Market offers two boxes: a smaller starter package nicknamed “The Mischief,” which contains about 10-13 lbs. of produce, and serves up to 2 people for a week, and a larger packaged known as “The Madness,” which holds about 18-22 lbs. of produce and serves up to 5 people for a week. The Mischief is $22 and the Madness is $35.

The website also features a blog, where it posts helpful information such as what fruits and vegetables are in season and how long each stays fresh when properly stored. The blog also includes plant-based recipes and a Q&A series called “Meet the Misfits” that focuses on introducing the company’s employees.

With the influx of new customers as a result of the current warnings to stay home due to COVID-19, business is booming. However, first-time orders from Misfits Market are being delayed 3-4 weeks, and some boxes ordered by existing customers may also be behind schedule by 1-2 days.

The company is making necessary changes to comfort its customers, benefit its workers and increase its overall efficiency. In mid-March, Misfits Market sent an email to all its customers regarding how it’s responding to COVID-19.

For starters, it’s increasing the hourly pay for warehouse workers by $3 in the next few weeks and hiring in at its Pennsauken, NJ headquarters. Additionally, each day it’s giving about 420 free meals to its workers from family-owned restaurants and local chains. This not only benefits its workers but also supports businesses that are struggling during this time.

“When I read about what the company was doing to help support its workers, and to hire those who have been unemployed, I immediately shared their info with all of my friends.  What we need right now is love and understanding, and Misfits is certainly doing its part to spread that message,” Smith said.

To maintain consistency, Misfits Market is keeping its Marketplace, where customers can go to add extra fresh or packaged items to their order, open from Thursday at 4 p.m. to Saturday at 8 p.m. Despite the increasing demand, the company is refraining from increasing the prices on these goods.

Finally, Misfits Market is continuing to meet all sanitation protocols, such as requiring its employees to wear hairnets, disposable aprons and gloves, as well as maintaining a clean refrigeration facility.

Misfits Market was founded on the principle of reducing food-waste, a dangerous but preventable problem that our country, and our world, faces daily. In recent weeks, it has gone above and beyond this mission to support its employees and to reassure its customers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Misfits Market is not only an exemplification of sustainability, but also of continued communication and positive progress in these difficult and unpredictable times.