The business Hungry Harvest delivers fruits and vegetables that supermarkets won’t buy from farmers due to their “ugly” appearance. The thing is, other than bruises and weird crevices, the food tastes the same but customers don’t want to buy it. At least, that’s what supermarkets have found. But Hungry Harvest has found an audience that will buy the less expensive “ugly produce” and pay for it to be delivered to their doorstep. Plus, for every Hungry Harvest box delivered, the company donates a meal to a family in need. (The overall mission of the company is end food waste and hunger.) The entrepreneur behind Hungry Harvest, Evan Lutz of Baltimore, Maryland, pitched his business on Shark Tank in January 2016. Lutz went into the Tank seeking an investment of $50,000 in exchange for five-percent equity. He made a deal with Robert Herjavec — $100,000 for 10 percent.
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After Shark Tank, in August 2016, Hungry Harvest announced that it opened its first Produce In A SNAP site at an elementary school. (SNAP is the government-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income individuals and families in need. Those who receive benefits use EBT cards to purchase food at retail stores.) The Produce In A SNAP stands are run by students and they sell 7–12 lbs. bags for just $7. In April 2017, Lutz reported that Hungry Harvest is expanding Produce In a SNAP to two new sites per month!
Rather than giving a cheque I’ve been looking for a way to give people an opportunity that empowers them. #sharktank #HungryHarvest
— Robert Herjavec (@robertherjavec) January 9, 2016
