IMPERFECT PRODUCE

IMPERFECT PRODUCE. PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD.

We upcycle cosmetically blemished and surplus produce into nourishing meals—keeping good food in the food system, supporting farmers, and reducing waste.

WHAT IS "IMPERFECT" PRODUCE

"Imperfect" or “Seconds" produce refers to fruits and vegetables that are perfectly edible but don’t meet strict retail cosmetic standards. Maybe a carrot is crooked, a broccoli floret is too small, or an apple has a little blemish.

Despite being just as nutritious and delicious, these crops are often left behind in fields or discarded because they don’t fit grocery store expectations. This means HUGE waste at the farm level, that we feel is not necessary.

WHY DO WE USE IT?

At Farm To Summit, we believe good food shouldn’t go to waste just because it looks a little different from what has been deemed 'standard'.

We work with farmers to purchase cosmetically blemished and surplus produce and transform it into shelf-stable ingredients for our meals. Through dehydration, we can preserve thousands of pounds of locally grown produce each week—turning what would have been waste into nourishing food that fuels adventures year-round. This keeps more food in the food system while supporting the farmers who grow it... and that just sort of makes sense, ya know?

UP TO 1/3 OF FOOD GROWN IS WASTED AT THE FARM LEVEL

We're not even talking about the food from your fridge or at a restaurant. This is food that was grown that never even makes it to market. [more]

WHY THE WASTE?

Perfectly good produce is often wasted at the farm level when crops don’t meet strict retail cosmetic standards, when labor is limited, as a result of unreliable or saturated markets, and due to limited crop storage capacity. This loss happens not because the food isn’t edible—but because the system isn’t designed to use all of what farmers grow.

WHAT FOOD WASTE REALLY COSTS

FARMER LIVELIHOOD

When food goes to waste, farmers lose income on crops they invested time, labor, and money to grow.

WATER USAGE

Wasted food also wastes the water used to grow it- one of our most precious and limited resources in arid Colorado.

LAND USAGE

Every uneaten crop represents land that was farmed, worked, and depleted for no nutritional return.

C02 EMISSION

Carbon cost from growing and harvesting food that never feeds anyone, with additional climate impacts if that food later ends up in landfills.

FOOD WASTE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 8-10% OF GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

That is almost five times the impact of the entire aviation sector [more]

WHAT IMPERFECT MEANS TO YOUR MEALS?

By choosing meals made with imperfect produce, you’re getting the same great taste and nutrition while helping reduce food waste and support farmers. It’s good food doing more—without asking you to compromise on flavor, quality, or performance.

Take a look in your bag. Most of the time, you won’t notice a difference at all—but here are a few fun ways locally sourced and upcycled produce might show up in your meal.

TAKE A LOOK IN YOUR BAG

Most of the time, you won’t notice a difference at all—but here are a few ways locally sourced and upcycled produce might show up in your meal:

Sliced carrots may not be perfectly uniform

Kale might be green—or a beautiful shade of purple

Carrots may be purple, white, yellow, or orange

Zucchini may be green, yellow, or multicolor

NATURE ISN'T UNIFORM. FOOD SHOULDN'T BE EITHER.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "imperfect" or "seconds" produce?

Imperfect or seconds produce includes fruits and vegetables that may be oddly shaped, slightly oversized, undersized, or visually inconsistent. These differences don’t affect taste or nutrition, but they can keep produce from being sold through traditional retail channels.

What does “upcycled food” mean?

Upcycled food uses ingredients that might otherwise go to waste—like surplus crops or cosmetically imperfect produce—and turns them into high-quality, nutritious food.

Is upcycled produce as safe and/or nutritious as “perfect” produce?

Absolutely: upcycled produce is just as safe, nutritious, and delicious as “perfect” produce. All Farm To Summit meals are made following strict food safety protocols.

Why is so much food wasted at the farm level?

Food is often wasted on farms due to cosmetic standards, unpredictable markets, labor shortages, short harvest windows, and limited storage or processing capacity. This isn’t about quality—it’s about logistics and systems.

How does Farm To Summit reduce food waste?

We work with farmers to capture surplus and “imperfect” produce, then preserve it through dehydration. This allows us to turn fresh harvests into shelf-stable ingredients we use in our meals year-round.

Do you compost in your kitchen?

Yes. We divert our kitchen scraps from the landfill by partnering with a local pig farmer who repurposes them as animal feed. It’s one more way we reduce waste and support our local food system. (Fun fact: pigs go wild for delicata squash seeds.)