What’s Wrong with Blue Apron?
First thing’s first: I’m writing this article to cover my ass.
Blue Apron, the near-unicorn meal kit delivery service more famous for its baroque packaging than its actual meals, is producing a six part podcast called Why We Eat What We Eat. I was contacted a day or so ago by Gimlet Media to be interviewed for an episode in which a person lives by a “climate change” diet for a week; they wanted to speak with me as an expert after discovering an incoherent rant of mine on Quartz.
I’m writing this article for the sole purpose of making my feelings about Blue Apron — and other services like it — known in the event that I participate in the interview and, as a result, find myself accused of shillery.
Let’s begin.
It’s Not About the Packaging
One of my favorite things in the world is finding a Blue Apron sponsored ad on Facebook and reading the comments.
I’m sure a silent majority of those who’ve interacted with Blue Apron love the service, but a vocal plurality has made an Internet pastime out of raining crap on them at every opportunity. Lots of complaints about missed deliveries, bland food, high prices, and, especially, the teeny tiny individual packaging of every single ingredient — apparently down to pinches of salt.
