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I hear from homeowners all the time who think there is a secret to planting and growing healthy trees. They've been misled by retailers who know that their customers don't know what to look for, what questions to ask, or how to choose the right tree for their situation.

These people are trying to turn a tree into a commodity, but the only way to sell a cheap tree is to grow a cheap tree. They grow their trees quickly and rush them to market. In order to get a big, colorful tree out the door, though, they sacrifice the most important things, like root health and branching structure.

They're counting on their customers not to notice - at least for a while.

Here's the thing. It's difficult to tell how healthy a tree is when you buy it. And the instant gratification of having something beautiful in place can trump the idea that maybe you didn't pick the healthiest tree or even the right tree for your space.

Our secret to growing is to mimic nature as much as possible. We grow our trees slowly, timing our crops so that they're sold only when they're ready. We've created a Bower & Branch' success kit, which includes planting instructions, fertilizer products, and growing tips, so that you may enjoy your tree for a lifetime. We've created a "Find Your Match" feature on our website to match your lifestyle with the best tree for you.

Only certified garden centers are authorized to carry Bower & Branch trees. They understand we've controlled the growing process from seedling stage to planting in your landscape, and they know how valuable it is to follow up with expert advice.

We are so confident in our trees that we stand behind all of them with a 3-year guarantee, no matter who plants them.

Buying trees online has become very popular over the last few years. Consumers have found the best places to buy trees online and began ordering trees without the constraints of retail shopping. The advantages are obvious ' you can shop at night when your to-do list has been checked off, and you can focus on what trees to buy! In addition to the convenience factor, you can also connect with experts online, research other peoples experiences and reviews, and find out the best trees to plant in your yard. 

Whether you are looking to buy shade trees, flowering trees, fruit trees, ornamentals or a rare tree, buying online actually helps you make the best choice. You are no longer limited to the inventory at the garden center. Now you can choose from the nearly limitless inventory available online, and confirm tree hardiness zones with ease.

'Wow, you completely understand what I wanted! You guys think the same way I do. I can't wait to do business with you and your company, so glad I found you!' ' Dave, Massachusetts

Buying trees online is often cheaper than buying trees in a garden center. The reason for this is simple: the retailer did not have to inventory the tree, so there are no added costs to pass along to you. Trees are often healthier when bought online. The trees stay in optimal growing conditions until purchased, then harvested and shipped.

Buy Mature Trees Online

Buying a mature tree online is best for many homeowners.  A large tree has a much higher chance of success than a less hearty example. When you buy a tree online it is important to know what size tree you're going to get. Bower & Branch has worked really hard to set clear expectations of what size tree you will receive.

'I've been very impressed with this whole process. You have a great system in place.' ' David, Pennsylvania

The smallest trees you are likely to buy online are from The Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation is a great organization, and they do a lot to promote awareness of trees, and educating the public about the importance of trees in our landscape. To understand size, let's use a Green Giant Arborvitae for example.  The Arbor Day tree is priced at only $9.00, while the Bower & Branch tree is priced at $75. Why such a big difference? The Arbor Day example is a 'bare root' seedling that is a little taller than the length of a dollar bill. The website lists it as 6' to 12' high. Bower & Branch sells this tree in our 'Size A', which for a Green Giant Arborvitae, is clearly shown as being 4' to 5' tall. Our tree has several years of growth under its branches and is much heartier ' making an immediate impact in your landscape. Even after you remove the tree from its pot and plant it, it will be 4' to 5' high. The tiny bare root stock can work for a passionate gardener who is able to devote years to protecting and nurturing the little twig into a healthy, happy tree. It would not be a good fit for many homeowners though, where pets, lawnmowers and children would threaten its existence on a daily basis. According to many accounts online, success rates for bare root stock vary from 10% to 30% ' the majority of the plants simply do not live long enough to become hearty trees. Bower & Branch trees on the other hand, show up at your local garden center, fresh from the grower ' a hearty, healthy tree that carries a 3 year guarantee, and is ready to take root in your yard and have an immediate positive impact. 

Full grown trees can be expensive to buy and have planted, but Bower & Branch's perfect size trees are large and mature enough to be healthy and hearty, but still affordable to buy and plant.

Best Place to Buy Fruit Trees

Fruit trees are a wonderful addition to your property. From your yard to your table, there is no better way to enjoy fresh fruit in season! The hard part about buying fruit trees online or in a garden center is finding the right tree in stock when you are ready to plant. 

Bower & Branch has a limited release of fruit trees available online ' make sure to sign up for our updates so we can let you know as more fruit trees become available. You will love our apple trees and peach trees, as well as our plums, blueberries, and more!

Buying fruit trees online with Bower & Branch allows us to deliver the tree to your favorite garden center when you are ready to plant! 

Trees from A to Z, or Aspen to Zelkova

When you are shopping for a tree online, you can choose from a wide variety ' Bower & Branch carries more than 250 different tree varieties, from Quaking Aspen to Green Vase Zelkova.  Many people who decide to buy a tree can feel a little bit of information overload, because of all the information that is available online. To help you buy the best tree for you, Bower & Branch created the helpful 'Find Your Perfect Match' tool ' it is a matchmaking service for trees and tree buyers. If you take a short quiz, our match tool will suggest the right tree for you to buy, based on your property, where you live, your lifestyle goals, and your personality.

Best Ugly Produce Delivery Service

When we first learned about financial independence, we started to analyze our spending. One of the first things that we realized was that we spent way too much on groceries.  

I eat gluten-free and have a variety of weird food allergies. We like to eat healthy, fresh foods, which also tend to cost a bit more. I would have assumed that we'd spend a little bit more on groceries than the average. 

Through some research, we realized that we spent more money on food than the USDA's guidance for a (liberal spending) family of four.

We have taken steps to improve. We've focused on not wasting food, meal planning based on what we already have, and buying in bulk. We have reduced our food spending quite a bit, but we felt like it was still high. 

I wanted to save more money on groceries. I didn't feel like we were getting the appropriate value for the money we were spending.

Someone mentioned that they save money by using a CSA (community-supported agriculture). What this means is that you buy a share in a farm and then you get a big box of produce each week for the summer and fall. 

When I was doing research into this, I stumbled across ugly produce delivery services. I found these services appealing for two reasons. First, these services ship the produce directly to your house. CSAs typically require you to pick it up from a central location. The ugly veggie services also provide the option of customizing the size of the box you want and the products inside. CSA shares provide a lot of food, and I wasn't sure that we could use it all.

There are two options for ugly produce where we live: Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods. We decided to try them both, alternating weeks between the two. One week we'd get a Misfits Market box. The next week we'd receive an Imperfect Foods Box. 

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We originally wrote this review in the fall of and chose our favorite at that point. In the summer of , we initially updated this review after realizing that both services had made changes to their products and level of customization. 

But that was just the beginning. Since updating this review in , there have been major changes and improvements to the ugly produce delivery service industry, most notably with the acquisition and merger of the two companies that we initially reviewed.

We'll share our experience with using both companies historically, and as they rolled out the changes as a result of the acquisition.

What is Ugly Produce Delivery?

In the United States, approximately 40% of our food is wasted. It isn't only consumers who are wasting food. Food is wasted for a variety of reasons and at different points along the supply chain. Farms, distributors, stores, and consumers are all guilty of too much food waste.

For the purposes of this post, let's focus on the beginning of the supply chain ' farms. Farms waste food for a variety of reasons:

• Hedging against Weather and Disease ' Farms will often over-plant because they worry about bad weather or other potential harm to their crops. Because of this, they might have a surplus that there is no demand for.
• Buying Standards ' As consumers in the United States, we have unrealistic cosmetic requirements for our produce. In a grocery store, we are likely to buy perfectly looking vegetables and fruits. This is problematic because this leads to edible but 'ugly' crops being left in the fields or thrown into garbage cans.
• Market Conditions ' Sometimes the crop's price at the time does not warrant the cost of labor or transportation to bring it to market.
• Order Changes ' Sometimes a company will make a large order and later cancel their order. This leaves farms scrambling to figure out if they can sell the product. 

The National Resource Defence Council makes a number of recommendations to help solve this problem. One of their main recommendations is to 'expand secondary markets for items that do not meet the highest cosmetic standards.'

This is precisely what companies like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods are doing. They are the secondary markets. They are buying the produce from farms when there is a surplus or when the produce doesn't meet cosmetic requirements.

Misfits Market Produce

Instead of this produce going to waste, it gets sold at a discount to companies like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods. These companies then ship the produce from their warehouse directly to customers. 

What are the Benefits of using a Secondary Market?

There are many benefits to buying your groceries through a company like Misfits Market or Imperfect Foods.

• Cost Savings: Produce through these services are often less expensive. When I first started using these services, I compared prices with my regular grocery store. The prices are typically 30-50% less, depending on the product. Because I'm not walking through the grocery store, I'm also not picking up random things I don't need.
• Time Savings: These companies deliver right to your door. This cuts down on the need for going grocery shopping.
• Healthy Eating: Now that we use these services we eat more fresh fruits and vegetables than we used to. We eat fresh produce with every meal of the day and in between for snacks.
• More inventive meals: Since we now plan our meals around the produce that is available, we've been more creative with our meals. We've made many recipes I would have never even considered. These new recipes include spaghetti squash boats, cabbage and sausage skillet, and even a curtido (Salvadoran pickled cabbage to put on tacos).
• Good for the environment: Buying produce from these services helps to reduce food waste. These companies have also done due diligence to ensure that food pantries are not receiving fewer donations.

These spaghetti squash boats with sausage, kale, mushrooms, and tomatoes were excellent!

What are the Drawbacks?

If you use one of these services, there are certain drawbacks. You are no longer stopping at the grocery store to get exactly what you want or need. 

• Limited choices: While I feel like both services have a lot of options, you can only choose from what is currently available. There have been times where we'd love to get cauliflower, pineapple, or cilantro, but those simply aren't available that week.
• Limited Delivery Frequency: Sometimes these products are shipped by FedEx, so they can arrive on any delivery day that you choose. Other times, a company might only deliver to your area once/week. 
• Product Quality is Sometimes Lower: There are occasions when I will receive a product that needs to be eaten within a couple of days. On rare occasions, some products will get smashed in transit. If something is already bad when it arrives, both companies are typically prompt at providing a refund.

How do Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods Compare?

CategoryImperfect FoodsMisfits Market (pre- merger)Misfits Market (post- merger) ContentsYou choose from an assortment of fruits, vegetables, pantry items, dairy, and meat. You choose from an assortment of fruits, vegetables, pantry items, dairy, and meat. You choose from an assortment of fruits, vegetables, pantry items, dairy, and meat. Order CustomizationComplete customization. A few days before each delivery, you have the opportunity to customize anything. You can choose to add and eliminate items. You can add any item in any quantity. Complete customization (new in ). A few days before each delivery, you have the opportunity to add exactly what you want to your box. You can add any item in any quantity.

If you want to order refrigerated items, you need to meet a minimum to receive a "cold pack." Complete customization. A few days before each delivery, you have the opportunity to add exactly what you want to your box. You can add any item in any quantity.

If you live an an area that has dedicated delivery drivers, you no longer need to choose the "cold pack" option. Organic ProduceSome produce is organic. Even if you don't choose an all organic box, you have the opportunity to add organic items when you customize. Most of the products are organic, although they do offer some non-organic items as well (new as of ). Most of the products are organic, although they do offer some non-organic items as well. PriceYou choose a box size to start with. There are 4 options:
Small (7-9 lbs) for ~$11-15
Medium (11-14 lbs) for ~$14-18
Large (17-19 lbs) for ~$20-25
XL (23-25 lbs) for ~$25-30

Organic boxes are generally 30-40% more expensive making them comparable to Misfits Market Prices.

Each item is priced individually, so you have transparency about how much each thing costs. Misfits Market now charges per item, and you must spend a minimum of $30 for your order. They say that their produce is 40% off grocery store prices, but it really depends on your grocery store. Misfits Market now charges per item, and you must spend a minimum of $15 for your order. They say that their produce is 40% off grocery store prices, but it really depends on your grocery store. Delivery ScheduleImperfect tells you what day/time that they deliver to your area. You get a text the day, so you know when it will arrive. You specify your delivery day - ships via FedEx, LaserShip or another 3rd party. If you live in one of their delivery areas, Misfits Market will let you know what day/time they deliver to your area. They will send you tracking information 1 day before.

If you are outside one of their delivery zones, you specify your delivery day, and it ships via FedEx or another 3rd party. Delivery Fee$5.99

They waive the shipping fee if you spend at least $60. $6.99$5.99 or FREE SHIPPING on order above $60. LocationsMost major metropolitan areas in New England, mid-Atlantic, the midwest, the west coast, the plains states, and Texas. Delivers to nearly all addresses in the lower 48 states (and Washington DC).Delivers to nearly all addresses in the lower 48 states (and Washington DC).

About Imperfect Foods

Imperfect Foods was started in . Prior to the acquisition and merger, they delivered to metropolitan areas in 32 states. They were popular because of their in-house delivery and growing assortment of private label products, even if it came with limited delivery windows (for example, they only delivered to my area on Tuesday afternoons).

They allowed customers to completely customize their boxes. You could choose from 4 different size boxes and organic or conventional. They would also add a set of items to your box. During a customization window, you could swap things out and add eggs, dairy, meat, or other pantry items if you'd like. 

Imperfect Produce Haul

About Misfits Market

Misfits Market was started in . They are based in Philadelphia and New Jersey. 

Misfits Market initially made changes in , and they now allow you to completely customize your box as well. Each week, they will let you know the window of time in which you can choose your items.

Misfits Market delivers to almost all zip codes in the lower 48 US states. In urban areas and larger suburbs, Misfits Market now uses the former Imperfect Foods delivery network. Through this network, you get your groceries delivered to your door from a dedicated Misfits Market delivery driver. If you live outside of one of their dedicated delivery zones, your box gets delivered to your doorstep by FedEx or another third party.

Misfits Market box contents

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Information about the Acquisition of Imperfect Foods by Misfits Market

The acquisition of Imperfect Foods by Misfits Market was first announced in September . While both companies have shared updates along the way, it's been a bit of a waiting game to see how this change would affect consumers.

When we first learned of the acquisition, it made sense to us because of the similarities between the two companies. Below is a list of the similarities that we initially shared in .

How are they similar?

Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods have so many similarities. 

• Mission: Both companies have a mission to reduce food waste.
• Sourcing: They both source the produce that would not sell in stores for a variety of reasons, whether it be surplus or cosmetic requirements.
• Selection: Both companies now offer produce, pantry items, dairy, and meat.
• Customization: Both companies allow you to customize your entire order based on their available selection, and you do not need to meet a minimum threshold for produce.
• Price per Unit: Both companies now allow you see the cost of every item. This allows you to easily compare it to the prices in your local grocery store.
• Organic vs. Conventional: Both companies offer a variety of organic and non-organic products.
• Delivery: Both companies deliver the box right to your doorstep.
• Delivery Fee: They both charge a nominal delivery fee (Imperfect Foods waives the fee above $60). 

We were also very excited and hopeful that the acquisition would mean the best of both companies for the consumer.

So, how did the acquisition shake out for consumers? What does this mean for customers of both companies?

How does the Acquisition (and Merger) impact Customers?

Unlike other mergers or acquisitions, the acquisition has had minimal impact on customers so far. We've actually been really impressed with how seamless the transition has been.

We were able to continue using Imperfect Foods as we were until they made a few recent changes, including updating the app and shopping process so that it aligns with what Misfits Market does.  

I expect that they will eventually phase out the Imperfect Website and process, so if you decide to try out one of these services, I'd recommend signing up with Misfits Market, so that you process won't change.

Best Ugly Produce Service: Misfits Market vs. Imperfect Foods

We have been long-time customers of both services. We've been using both for over 4 years, although our early preference (from -) was Imperfect Foods, in large part due to the lack of customizations from Misfits Market.

But we then heard a lot about Misfits Market's customization options. So, in the summer of , we tried it again. At the time we had one key question to answer. Would Misfits Market's new customization (and availability of non-organic produce) allow it to jump ahead of Imperfect Foods in our ranking?

Ultimately, we concluded that the decision between the two companies would have been based on what you value most (or where you live), and that Misfits Market closed almost all of the gap that we saw with Imperfect Foods (customization, transparency on pricing, adding non-organic produce, and adding refrigerated items). But we still saw Imperfect Foods as the better company to use because of the quality. It was rare that we received anything from Imperfect Foods that we could not eat.

Now that the companies have made significant progress to merge their companies, here's what we think about the services.

We are enjoying the benefits of both Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods. We get access to the superior Misfits Market shopping app and have access to a wider variety of products. And, we still get our groceries delivered directly to our house by a Misfits Market delivery driver. And we've been happy to see that the level of quality from Imperfect Foods has carried over. We have not yet had to throw anything out because of the quality of food sent to us. It truly is the best of both worlds.

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