Aggregated from around the web, a few local businesses making the news. Our first is Imperfect Produce, a local food delivery service who want to make a dent in the estimated 6 billion pounds of misshapen, non-uniform fruits & veggies wasted annually by selling them at a discount. Farley’s Coffee, who just celebrated five years in Emeryville, is taking steps to share their success with their employees by launching an employee profit-sharing program. In addition, we finally have a Grand Opening date for the much-anticipated North Oakland restaurant Salsipuedes by The Half Orange’s Jay Porter.

Redefining Standards for Beauty in Produce – Imperfect Opens for Business!

The Imperfect Team (Ben Simon, Ben Chesler, and Ron Clark) with their first shipment at their new warehouse in Emeryville, California.

Ron Clark and Ben Simon met at a gleaning event last fall that I coordinated before Feeding the 5000 Oakland. Since then they’ve been working hard to start up an innovative company that is going to change the produce world. And the more you learn about Imperfect, Ben, Ron, and their third business partner Ben Chesler, the more you’re sure to be impressed. Especially now that they’ve officially made history with Raley’s, the first large grocery chain in the U.S. selling misshapen produce. In addition to that, Imperfect just rolled out “ugly” produce home delivery in Northern California as well. And this is just the very beginning to “redefining standards for beauty in produce” as their slogan so aptly claims.

Read More on Foodtank.com →

Farley’s launches employee profit-sharing program

When Chris and Amy Hillyard opened Farley’s East coffee shop in Uptown Oakland in 2009, they knew they wanted to involve their employees in the business in a more inclusive way than is typical for a coffee shop. It took them six years, but they have now launched a profit-sharing program for all of their employees across the three Bay Area Farley’s locations.

The Hillyards announced the program at Farley’s first all-staff meeting last week. “Farley’s is proud to share the success of the business with the people who are core to that success: our employees,” the Hillyards wrote in a Facebook announcement July 21.

Read More on Berkeleyside.com →

Salsipuedes Grand Opening Celebration set for Thursday 8/20

The long anticipated Salsipuedes stealthy soft-opened August 6th and is planning a Grand opening celebration starting Thursday August 20th. “We don’t have a sign yet, but we’re the only restaurant on the corner of Market and 42nd Street” notes their website.

Their menu is now online and includes tempting items like Octopus Melt Bao, Drowned Chicken Torta and a “Burgers & Fries” Tuesday Special. Salsipuedes is currently only open for Dinner from Tuesday-Saturday from 5-10pm “We seat on a first-come, first-serve basis. Come on in!”.

More information on Salsipuedes.us →