Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Climate-Friendly Groceries Beyond Supermarkets
The food we eat has a big impact on the environment.
Growing, packaging, and transporting food creates a lot of pollution.
About a third of the food in the U.S. is wasted because it doesn't look perfect or doesn't get sold.
Some people are looking for ways to buy food that is better for the planet.
They are buying directly from local farms, shopping at farmers markets, or using delivery services that sell produce that doesn't meet supermarket standards.
These alternatives can help reduce waste and pollution.
Buying local and seasonal food can also save money and support local farmers.
However, not all alternatives are perfect, and some still involve transportation and packaging.
The key is to be flexible and choose the options that work best for you and the environment.
The global food system contributes to roughly a third of worldwide, human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
About a third of the U.S. food supply is lost or wasted without being eaten.
Alternative food systems like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmers markets, and delivery services for imperfect produce can reduce waste and emissions.
Buying local and seasonal food can minimize the carbon footprint and support local farmers.
Delivery services like Misfit Markets and Imperfect Produce offer discounted groceries that don't meet supermarket standards, reducing food waste.
- Who
- Consumers looking for less-wasteful alternatives to supermarket groceries
- What
- Alternative food systems like CSAs, farmers markets, and delivery services for imperfect produce
- When
- During the week of Thanksgiving and year-round
- Where
- Local farms, farmers markets, and delivery services across the U.S.
- Why
- To reduce the climate impact of the global food system and minimize food waste
- Global food system emissions
- Roughly a third of worldwide, human-caused greenhouse gas emissions
- U.S. food waste
- Roughly a third of the U.S. food supply is lost or wasted
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Direct purchase from local farmers with less processing and packaging
- Farmers markets
- Direct sales from growers with less packaging and processing
- Misfit Markets
- Delivery service for produce that doesn't meet supermarket standards
- Imperfect Produce
- Delivery service for blemished or undersized produce
- Food waste reduction
- Alternative food systems reduce waste and emissions