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In October 2014, Shark Tank viewers watched as the co-founders of Hungry Harvest, Evan Lutz, and Jon Beyer, pitched their business to the sharks.
The company delivers “ugly” fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste to customers’ doorsteps. Since appearing on Shark Tank, Hungry Harvest has been featured in Inc., The Huffington Post, Forbes, and more.
When working at a food bank, Lutz came up with the idea for Hungry Harvest and noticed that a lot of perfectly good food was being thrown away because it didn’t meet cosmetic standards. He started rescuing this Produce and selling it to people in his community at a discount.
Today, Hungry Harvest delivers rescued Produce to customers in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida.
What is Hungry Harvest?
Hungry Harvest is a brand committed to providing healthy food options to its customers. The brand was started by a group of individuals who were passionate about healthy eating and wanted to make a difference in the world.
Hungry Harvest provides its customers with a wide range of healthy food options, including fruits, vegetables, and meat. The brand also offers various services, such as delivery and catering.
The Hungry Harvest food delivery service specializes in distributing fruit and vegetables that were rejected due to size or appearance defects by their original manufacturers.
Hungry Harvest is a company that works with wholesalers and farmers to purchase unsold Produce and then resell it to customers through a subscription-based model at significantly reduced costs.
Hungry Harvest also donates unattractive fruits and vegetables left in its delivery boxes or bags to charities and food banks. As a result, it helps to fill the food gap primarily prevalent in areas lacking access to healthy food options.
Company Name | Hungry Harvest |
Entrepreneur | Evan Lutz |
Product / Business | Food waste reduction service that delivers imperfect Produce to your door |
Investment Asking For | $50,000 for 5% equity in Hungry Harvest |
Final Deal | $100,000 for 10% equity in Hungry Harvest |
Shark | Robert Herjavec |
Episode | Season 7, Episode 13 |
Business Status | In Business |
Website | Visit Website |
Who is the founder of Hungry Harvest?
Evan Lutz is the founder of Hungry Harvest. He was a business major at the University of Maryland with a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to start his own company after graduation. Evan Lutz is the CEO and co-founder of Hungry Harvest.
The local Baltimorean desired to run his business in a way that would benefit those in need, eliminate waste, and still generate a profit by selling a product that nobody before needed.
The poverty, starvation, and injustice he witnessed daily on the terrible streets of his hometown deeply disturbed him, but that was only the flame that ignited his moment of inspiration.
According to Evan, the United States wastes 6 billion pounds of food annually to fill four NFL stadiums. Many fresh foods are lost on farms and could be eaten. The main problem is their appearance. The young entrepreneur was shocked and amazed.
What happens to all the food that doesn’t meet the aesthetic standard? You’ll find identical, blemish-free apple trays and oranges, vegetables, and other fruit at your local grocery store, thanks to mass-market farming and supermarkets.
Sadly, it is thrown out along with food thrown away due to logistical difficulties. Farmers have difficulty predicting how many cabbages to produce based on inaccurate production data; hence, there is always waste from overproduction. He proposed a strategy to benefit everyone in a city with such a high poverty rate.
John Zamora and Evan Lutz co-founded Hungry Harvest in May 2014, and their innovative subscription service began enrolling customers.
The program would provide local farmers with unused fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. Evan and John began conducting free farmers’ markets monthly, donating fruits and vegetables to the community in quantities, and offering a meal for every bag they sold to needy families.
It was assumed that expanding the firm into new markets would be straightforward if an investor could fund the expansion. They applied to appear on Shark Tank to achieve this goal.
Hungry Harvest Before Shark Tank
Physical attractiveness and unreasonably high standards and expectations are unhealthy preoccupations with us, but this should differ from our food selections. It is common for fruits and vegetables to come in various shapes and sizes; however, some perfectly acceptable produce is rejected from being sold at markets because it is deemed “too ugly.”
Ugly Produce is either too big, too little, deformed, or even in the case of a framer surplus, produce that is misshapen. Approximately forty percent of crops fail to meet aesthetic standards every year.
Almost six billion pounds of fresh Produce fail to meet aesthetic standards due to imperfection. Unlike supermarket produce, this wasted product provides the same nourishment.
At a time when 48 million Americans struggle to feed their families, cultivating something that will end up on a truck on its way to the landfill is not only a waste of food but also an inefficient use of energy.
Hungry Harvest is an organization that specializes in rescuing perishable Produce and allowing it to live out its purpose by being consumed as part of a meal. The service delivers ugly Produce to your door by subscription and offers 20-30% savings over fruit and vegetables that are more pleasing.
With each delivery of Produce, Hungry Harvest will provide a reusable bag that is friendly to the environment. You will never be without delicious, freshly prepared meals because the service is available year-round.
Hungry Harvest’s biggest advantage may be that for every bag of imperfect Produce they send (especially 1.2 pounds of Produce per delivery), the company will provide a meal to a person in need. It is a fruit with a specific function.
You can choose between three sizes; the Mini Harvest is an excellent option for one to two individuals. The Full Harvest is sufficient for a family of three to four people, while the Super Harvest is designed for serious vegetable enthusiasts, vegetarians, and vegans.
You have the option of purchasing Produce that is conventional or produces that is entirely organic. Fans of fruit can get the All Fruit Harvest in a miniature or full-sized serving. It is easy to skip a week’s delivery, and there is no charge for the delivery service.
Hungry Harvest Shark Tank Recap
Evan Lutz appeared on Shark Tank in January 2016, requesting an investment of $50,000 in exchange for a 5% equity in Hungry Harvest. He told the sharks about the tremendous amount of food wasted every year and the food waste resulting from cosmetic flaws in fruits and vegetables. He also discussed how much of this food was wasted.
He continued his upbeat presentation by elaborating for the sharks on the Hungry Harvest business strategy, which included the subscription service offered to clients and the charitable contributions made for each purchase.
He indicated that clients would positively respond to signing up for the service since they would save time and money, eat healthier, and support local farmers by signing up for the service.
Additionally, they provided food assistance to those in need and reduced food waste. Toward the end of his presentation, he highlighted the “Produce with purpose” that Hungry Harvest sold and posed the question, “Who’s hungry?” to the group of potential investors.
Evan presented a compelling presentation and handed out samples to potential investors during his presence.
Lori Greiner inquired about the many options accessible to clients. Evan responded by outlining the three different order quantities from which subscribers may select, beginning with the $15 Mini Harvest and progressing up to the $35 Super Harvest.
Kevin was curious about the source of Hungry Harvest’s food supplies and asked about it. The local farmer’s overproduction of some goods presented the local entrepreneur with several logistical challenges, as the entrepreneur noted.
He could avoid overstocking by utilizing a subscription-based service that lets him know exactly how much food to purchase. He also explained that they would buy the excess Produce the farmers had available. This was a significant advantage.
All of the sharks expressed a great deal of amazement, whether it was Evan himself, the generous nature of the firm, or the innovative concept that appeared to benefit everyone.
Mark Cuban was interested in learning about the company’s previous sales records. Evan divulged that the company had made sales of $37,000 in the first six months of business but that the revenue in the most recent six months had reached an outstanding total of $104,000.
Barbara Corcoran said, “Good for you.”. Even though it appeared from the start that the sharks were interested in Hungry Harvest, Evan was about to provide some bad news.
He informed the sharks that the company was not profitable at present and that the loss for the current year was roughly 20,000 dollars. Kevin questioned whether or not Evan was giving himself a salary, to which Evan responded that he did not get any income from the company at any time.
Evan provided information about the free farmer’s markets where Produce was offered to entire neighborhoods and the food donated for every sale. However, Kevin O’Leary could not comprehend Evan’s strategy and wondered why Hungry Harvest continued to be charitable despite its losses. Evan explained the company’s charitable efforts to Lori.
Barbara Corcoran had a lot of respect for Evan and what he was trying to accomplish, but she wanted the companies she invested in to be governed by “decent people” who were also “greedy.” Evan’s strategy of donating and contributing to society was misguided when his company lost money.
Evan’s strategy of making donations and contributions to society was misguided because once his business made millions in profit, it could afford to give away large charitable donations.
She told him that she found it most unsettling that Evan was so enamored with the concept underpinning his company, even though she believed his business plan to be potentially unsustainable.
She respected his intentions, but she did not believe that Evan had the necessary experience to expand the company any further, and as a result, Barbara decided to withdraw from the venture.
Robert Herjavec’s business empowered people. As he stated in his heartfelt speech, he will not argue with the other sharks as he is fully behind the business that allows people to empower themselves.
Evan had asked for a sum of $50,000 in exchange for a five percent stake in his company, and Robert intended to make a direct offer of $100,000 in exchange for a ten percent stake.
He assured the young business owner that he could assist in expanding the company, stating that this was one of his specialties. Robert appeared to expect an immediate response to his big offer from Evan when he asked if he might consult with the other sharks first.
Robert said, “I’m not going to argue with you,” appearing unwilling to negotiate the offer any further and not wanting any competition from the other sharks. Kevin O’Leary didn’t see any reason why Evan shouldn’t hear any other offers, but Robert seemed unwilling to negotiate the offer any further.
Kevin had direct communication with Evan; during that conversation, he informed Evan that the company ‘fit’ with him and that it also had the potential to work in conjunction with some of his other investments. Kevin also asserted that he could assist with the scaling of the company and the logistics of an expanded customer base.
He started musing aloud about the proportion of equity he was seeking, Robert tried to interrupt him, and Kevin screamed, “Let me give him my offer,” in an irritated manner. “Let me tell him my offer,” he said.
In the meantime, Robert continued to press Evan to accept his offer or argue with Kevin by saying, “Either accept my offer or argue with Kevin.” He spoke again about the investment he wanted to make in the company, implying he would withdraw his offer if it weren’t accepted immediately. Although Kevin seemed temporarily hearing impaired, Robert continued to press Evan.
At this point, Evan, who seemed slightly under pressure, looked at Robert for a moment before saying, “I might be inclined to take your offer.” Robert and Evan shook hands on the deal, smiling now that the tension was gone. Evan looked quite a under pressure by this point, and Barbara Corcoran advised him to “Speak up, young man.”.
What Happened To Hungry Harvest After Shark Tank?
Hungry Harvest was featured on Shark Tank in 2016. The brand received a lot of attention from the show, which helped to boost its popularity. The Hungry Harvest brand has become one of the world’s most popular healthy food brands since appearing on the show.
Hungry Harvest is destined to be successful, given that it is based on such an original and admirable concept for a business. It focuses on the significant business expansion that generates profits and its profoundly positive effects on society.
Over 1.6 million pounds of food have been donated and subsidized by the rapidly expanding business to combat food insecurity in the United States.
Evan Lutz, the company’s youthful creator, has already been recognized by Forbes as one of the top 30 under 30 for social entrepreneurship and one of Baltimore’s 40 under 40. In addition, he received the prestigious Montgomery County Emerging Business of the Year award.
Hungry Harvest currently employs 65 people in nine different states, with its headquarters in Baltimore’s City Garage. The Coronavirus affects every individual and animal on earth, so the company meets the needs of the communities in which it operates.
This unquestionably contributes to advancing a more noble cause while simultaneously resulting in significant financial gains. Hungry Harvest maintains its no-contact delivery of an extensive variety of vegetables and fruits, including organic options, without ever increasing the prices of its services.
According to recently updated figures, Hungry Harvest successfully prevented 20 million pounds of food from being cruelly thrown by finding a market for the food that was previously destined to be discarded.
Hungry Harvest recently completed the first stage of its capital investment, headed by CREADEV. The company obtained funding of $13.7 million in September 2020, in addition to the $7.25 million completed in March. This was done to extend the scope of its operation.
There is currently a distribution of “ugly” Produce throughout Maryland, Washington, the District of Columbia, Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, Northern Delaware, Northern Virginia, South Florida, The Triangle area, and Charlotte, North Carolina, as the Detroit Metro Region in Michigan.
Hungry Harvest Shark Tank Update
Evan’s plan to relieve world hunger, waste and environmental damage was visibly moving to a large portion of the “Shark Tank” audience during his partnership with Robert Herjavec.
After participating in the show, Hungry Harvest had 1,000 new subscribers within a week, so the company expanded its operation area before a month passed.
Hungry Harvest service is now available in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Baltimore. Hungry Harvest food delivery rolled out in New York City, Richmond, and Pittsburgh by the end of 2016.
Evan also explained the attention that his appearance had garnered on the company’s website. A huge increase was seen on the company’s website, which received 150 new visitors a day to 3,000, and the social media sites that supported the company were equally impressive; in a matter of days, the number of fans on the Hungry Harvest Facebook page had increased by fourfold.
Evan was prepared to capitalize on the notoriety even before his part of the show was broadcast, as evidenced by the fact that all other social media sites experienced a deluge of attention in response to his appearance on the show.
Even if one ignores the altruistic and motivational underpinnings of the Hungry Harvest enterprise, it is simple to understand why many people are drawn to the concept.
Evan has not sat on his laurels or relied on the generosity of others to help him expand his business. As an alternative, he provides his customers with a weekly bag of fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to their homes at a reasonable price.
The company website is both attractive and abundant in content, and this content is wider than details regarding the charitable accomplishments of Hungry Harvest. The young entrepreneur has a little bit of Gordon Ramsay in him, albeit, fortunately, he doesn’t indulge in swearing and ranting as Gordon does.
Evan came on ABC7 breakfast TV in February 2016 to advertise the company and cook a beautiful-looking home-produced coleslaw.
You might find the variety of mouthwatering dishes Evan has posted on the Hungry Harvest website just as pleasantly surprising and wonderful. The company has established a community of followers devoted to the concept that it is based on and the vegetables it sells.
The philanthropic enterprise of Robert Herjavec may soon be able to offer weekly bags of goodies to more of us. Giving additional gifts to needy people is possible if the business succeeds and further reduces food waste.
It is difficult to speculate on the exact level of commercial success that Hungry Harvest may enjoy in the years to come, but Robert Herjavec has made it clear on the show that he fully supports the mission and values of the company.
Evan is the kind of business partner Hungry Harvest needs as it continues its altruistic and admirable goal of providing vegetables to those in need.
Is Hungry Harvest Still In Business?
Yes, Hungry Harvest is still in business and has been doing great to solve the world hunger problem. After appearing on Shark Tank, hungry Harvest opened its first Produce In A SNAP location in an elementary school in August 2016.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides financial assistance to low-income families and individuals. Those receiving government subsidies use EBT cards to purchase food at retail stores.
The Produce In A SNAP stands is operated by students, who sell bags weighing 7 and 12 pounds for just $7. Lutz reported in April 2017 that Hungry Harvest is expanding its Produce In a SNAP program to two more venues every month!
What is the Net Worth of Hungry Harvest?
The valuation of Hungry Harvest was $1 million when it appeared on Shark Tank. The net worth of Hungry Harvest is estimated to be $5 million, with annual revenue of $4 million.