The 8 Best Emergency Food Supply Companies of 2021

2020 has proven that emergencies can happen at any time! Long term food storage is not just for the military or doomsday preppers. Everyone should be prepared to care for themselves and their family in times of natural disasters or national crisis.

These are the 8 Best Emergency Food Supply Companies of 2021:

1. My Patriot Supply
2. Emergency Essentials
3. Thrive Life
4. ReadyWise
5. Augason Farms
6. Legacy Food Storage
7. Valley Food Storage
8. 4Patriots

Below I give you description of each of these 8 companies, including their pros and cons and a chart at the end. I hope you find it helpful.

1. My Patriot Supply

Your All American Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

My Patriot Supply (not to be confused with 4Patriots which is detailed below) focuses on helping Americans be prepared for emergencies. It seems like they have thought of just about everything including the coffee! Ammo cans are sold for short-term emergencies. They stand apart from most long term food storage companies because they promise 2,000+ calories per day! Their black and white packaging is very classy looking with their Ready Hour logo.

When you shop on their website you will see the option to buy not only long term food storage but other emergency preparedness items such as water filtration systems, First Aid Kits, and Sprouting Seeds and Micro Greens.

 

Pros

• Military Discounts.  My Patriot Supply is dedicated to serving Americans. Because of this they offer Veterans and Active Military 10% off of their orders. You can get the discount code here.
• American Grown. Foods are made and packed in the USA.
• Resealable Pouches. Their pouches are resealable with a  zipper-top which makes for less waste. They are heavy-duty 4-layer pouches with oxygen absorbers inside to extend shelf life of the food.
• Bean Trio and Rice Kit. Shelf life unopened 30 years.
• Mega Protein Kit with Real Meat. Shelf life unopened 25 years.
• Fruit and Vegetable Kit. Shelf life unopened 25 years.
• Shelf Life Opened. After the product is opened the shelf life is up to 1 year.
• Gluten Free. There are many gluten free options to choose from. They sell gluten free kits, cases, and #10 cans.
• Free Shipping. My Patriot Supply provides free shipping on orders over $99 to the 48 contiguous United States. Orders under $99 are charged a flat shipping rate.
• Bucket. Their buckets are easy to open and don’t require a special tool. They have a zipper that you pull off and then the lid hinges up for easy access.

Cons

• Big Commitment. They don’t offer much in terms of getting your feet wet. For that reason, you will have to spend around $25 on their 72-hour sample pack containing 16 servings in order to try My Patriot Supply. You can’t just buy one pouch in order to try out a flavor.
• Limited Shipping. They don’t ship outside of the United States at this time and this is pretty typical of most long term food storage companies.
• Accessibility. Your best option is to purchase My Patriot Supply products off of their website, but in limited quantities you can also find them on BePrepared.com and CampingSurvival.com.

2. Emergency Essentials

Your Time-Tested Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

Emergency Essentials has been helping people prepare for emergencies since 1987. They make it their mission to help people be prepared not only with food, but also with water, fire, books, and medical supplies.

Another element they focus on is education. They provide free resources to help you plan for tornadoes, fires, floods, winter storms, droughts, and other disasters.

Pros

• QSS: Quality Survival Standards. Emergency Essentials sells QSS Certified Food Kits which guarantee a minimum of 1,800 calories and 40 grams of protein per day. This is important in emergency situations where you will most likely be burning more calories than normally.
• Group/Bulk Buying Program. Emergency Essentials does a great job of rewarding bulk buying. You can gather a group of friends/family/neighbors, appoint a group leader and then purchase their products at a discounted price. Read more about their group program here.
• Can Opener. I love that they actually tell you how to open their #10 cans! Most companies don’t even mention this point. Emergency Essentials says that a heavy duty or commercial grade can opener works best but, everyday kitchen openers will work however they are not quite as easy to use.
• Resealable Pouches. They package their foods in 3-layer pouches that have a zipper seal. This is great for taking out just what you need and storing the rest for later. So much less food is wasted!
• Unopened Shelf Life. All pails, totes, or pouches that remain unopened retain their shelf life of 30 years, with the exception of eggs and bread mixes with a shorter shelf life of 5-10 years.
• Opened Shelf Life. Opened products will last up to 1 year.
• Emergency Plans. Emergency Essentials provides us many resources on their website for disaster preparedness. This is great especially when you’re thinking of how to care for your family and your neighbors in times of distress.
• Gluten Free. They sell 1 gluten free kit and several individual gluten free products on their website.
• Shipping Rates. Their shipping rates are clearing broken down for us to read, which leaves out any guessing. And if you order the minimum quantity of any Group Special shipping is free! 

Cons

• Accessibility. It’s not easy to find Emergency Essentials products except on their website.
• Shipping. The good news is that they do ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and Canada, but their shipping rates are different than shipping to the 48 contiguous United States. 

3. Thrive Life

Your Meat and Vegetable Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

Thrive Life is different than other long term food storage companies in that they focus more on the ingredients rather than the meal. You can buy meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, cereals and grains and create their recipes or your own.

They do the best job that I have seen on the market in offering a great variety of freeze dried vegetables so that in emergencies you won’t be lacking in essential nutrients.

Pros

• Freeze Dried Pork Products. Most long term food storage companies don’t offer freeze dried pork, but with Thrive Life you can buy pulled pork and sausage crumbles in Pantry Cans and #10 cans, which they call Family Cans. This is important because during times of crisis protein sources are often scarce. Click here to view all Meat and Protein options.
• Vegetables. Thrive Life offers the largest variety of freeze dried vegetables that I have seen sold in Pantry Cans and Family Cans. Asparagus, Broccoli, Kale, Red Bell Peppers, Zucchini and more. You can consume Thrive Life vegetables meanwhile waiting for your own garden to grow.
• Clean Food. There are literally no additives in Thrive Life foods. If the can says carrots, then all you get is carrots! A lot of people are concerned with the high levels of sodium that long term food storage has, but you won’t find that here – just clean food. 
• Steel Cans. Their cans are made of steel so you can even bake in them!
• Shelf Life. Their Family Cans and their Pantry Cans have a shelf life of 25 years before opening which certainly is important during periods of drought, which may prevent you from growing your own garden.
• Gluten Free. Thrive Life sells many products that are gluten free so there is no shortage of options for you there.
• Recipes. Thrive Life provides recipes for you using their ingredients which can help the beginner chef.
• Shipping. If you sign up for their monthly delivery service then you get free shipping on all orders over $100.
• Business Opportunity. With Thrive Life you have the opportunity to sign up to become a Consultant and earn a commission off of your own purchases and the purchases of people that buy using your personal link. This is a very unique option that most other long term food storage companies do not offer you.
• Easy Opening. To open their Family Cans (#10 cans) you use a can opener. Their Pantry Cans have a pull top, which does’t require any tools.

Cons

• No easy stacking. Their Family Cans and Pantry Cans cannot be easily stacked, consequently can take up a lot of storage space. But, they do offer a solution by selling a variety of shelving options.
• No Bulk Purchase Option. They have a monthly service where you can purchase products every month. Another options is to buy large amounts all at one time without setting up a monthly delivery service. 
• No Bug Out Bag or Emergency First Aid options. Thrive Life does not cater to preppers or emergency preparedness. They focus on simplicity in the kitchen and wasting less food and time by eliminating having to go to the grocery store so often.
• Accessibility. You can only buy Thrive Life products through their website or through a consultant if you happen to know one.

4. ReadyWise

Your Ready-To-Go Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

ReadyWise sells Adventure bags for daily-use, such as camping and hiking, but mostly caters to Emergency Kits for individuals, couples, and families. In addition to long-term food storage, they also offer survival packs, emergency supplies, generators, and emergency pet kits for dogs and cats.

Pros

• Website. ReadyWise has a very nice looking website. They have a red, black, and white theme that runs throughout their website and their product packaging.
• Dietary Restricted Foods. ReadyWise offers some Gluten Free and Organic products.
• Easy to open Buckets.  They have made their buckets simple to open. Just tear the plastic seal on the top and you’re ready to go!
• Additional Emergency Supplies. In addition to long-term food storage kits they also make it very convenient to purchase other emergency supplies. They sell Solar Panels, Portable Solar Generator, Water Filters and Storage Containers, First Aid Kits, and small stoves for cooking thus eliminating hectic shopping on your part.
• Sales and Discounts. ReadyWise almost always has some kind of sales and discounts that you can take advantage of. In addition to individual products being on sale look at the top of the screen for discount codes. They usually have a “first order” discount that you can take advantage of as well.
• Shelf Life.  Wise Company’s freeze-dried and dehydrated foods will last up to 25 years or longer.
• Rewards Program. ReadyWise Rewards offers you the opportunity to earn points by completing various actions. A little difficult to find, but you can see it under the “About” tab under “Rewards”. Click here to go directly to the Rewards.
• Accessibility. In addition to purchasing their products on their website you may also find them at Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabelas/Bass Pro Shop, Walmart, and Costco.

Cons

• Pouches. Some of their pouches are resealable, but not all of them thus increasing the possibility for waste if the food isn’t used all at one time. It seems that most of their Adventure pouches are resealable but not their Emergency pouches.
• Opened Pouches Shelf Life. There is no information on their website explaining how long their products last after having been opened.
• Shipping. We aren’t told what their shipping costs are or if they ship outside of the 48 contiguous United States.

5. Augason Farms

Your Available Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

Phil Augason started Augason Farms with his famous Morning Moo’s Milk! His products can now be found in Walmart, Associated Foods, WinCo, Sam’s Club, Costco, and other locations. They focus heavily on producing food supplies for long term food that people want to eat.

Pros

• Website. Their website homepage is very clean and shows you which products are in stock. The rest of their website is easy to navigate with clean images and clear options.
• Free Shipping. They offer free shipping on orders over $200.
• Square Pails. They sell square pails which are much easier to stack and don’t waste as much storage space as round pails or cans do.
• Bundles. They offer #10 Can and Pail Bundles which makes your shopping experience a whole lot easier.
• Recipes. Augason Farms provides recipes on all of their #10 Can labels thus giving you meal options. They also frequently post recipes on their social media accounts for you to access.
• Shelf Life. For most products the shelf life is up to 30-years. For Baking Mixes and Eggs shelf life is 5-10 years on unopened cans.
• Opened Shelf Life. Augason Farms does a good job of letting you know that once opened your product has a shelf life of about 1 year.
• Variety of Sizes. They offer Emergency Supplies from 72-hours to 1-Year Kits so you have a lot of options.
• Drink and Soup Mixes. Sold in #10 Cans they carry a variety of drink and soup mixes such as Orange and Apple Delight Drink Mix, Hearty Vegetable Soup Mix, and Southwest Chili Soup Mix.
• Prepper Supplies. You can add to your order different helpful survival supplies such as First Aid Kits, Hand Wheat Grinder, Fire Starter Kit, and Emergency Candles thus completing your prepper goals.
• Accessibility.  Augason Farms products are sold in many places therefore making them accessible to the consumer. You will find them sold in Walmart, Associated Foods, WinCo, Sam’s Club and Costco, just to name a few. Amazon also sells Augason Farms products.

Cons

• Whole Bucket Shelf Life. They may be the most inexpensive per 100 calories (see chart below) but what concerns me is the shelf life. Some of the products in their buckets last for 10 years while others last for 25 years. This means that you can’t just leave it sealed up for 25 years and forget about it. You will need to use up some of it’s contents within 10 years.
• No Samples. Augason Farms doesn’t offer any samples. 
• Limited Shipping. They only ship to locations within the contiguous United States. This does not include Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Gluten Free Options. They are very limited on their gluten free products.
• Pail Opening Instructions. Most long term food storage products come in some type of bucket and can be tricky to open. Augason Farms recommends that you purchase a special tool. This is the pail opener that they recommend to make your life much easier!

6. Legacy Food Storage

Your Discount Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

Based in Salt Lake City, UT Legacy Food Storage has been around since 2006. All their food is processed, packaged and shipped within the United States. They advertise having the lowest prices online per pound. They also have a 100% free shipping policy to the lower 48 states of the USA, payment plans, and group discounts.

Pros

• Free Shipping. Legacy Food Storage ships free if you live in the contiguous United States. An extra fee will be charged if shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.
• Square Stackable BPA-free buckets. Their buckets weigh less than 40 pounds each and have either a handle or grips which makes moving them around easier.
• Dog and Cat Emergency Essentials. Legacy Food Storage includes a section for our pets. The purchase includes a bit of food and water, but also sanitation, first aid, and tools like an emergency blanket and collar. The deluxe pet kit includes comfort items such as toys and a carrying case.
• Sample Packs. Their sample packs are not free, but they do offer you the chance to purchase sampler pouches to get a taste of their products. This is a great buying option if want to taste their products before buying in bulk.
• Shelf Life. Legacy Food Storage double secures their products by storing them in Mylar pouches with an Oxygen Absorber and a Nitrogen Flush, so that the residual oxygen levels are well below 1%. They have a 25-year shelf life if the pouches remain unopened and are stored in a proper way.
• Group Discounts. This is great if you want to purchase Legacy Food Storage products together with family and friends. Fill out the group discount form or call the number listed on their website to place your order and receive your discount.
• Coupons. They often offer various coupons throughout the year. Just look at the top of the screen to see if any are available at the time of your purchase.
• Amazon. Some of their products are sold on Amazon, which is convenient because most of us shop on Amazon regularly. 
• Survival Gear. In addition to food, Legacy Food Storage also sells other survival gear. You’ll find pet essentials, solar options, gas cans, first aid kits, and more.
• Gluten Free. They offer a variety of options for those seeking gluten free long term food storage products.
• Product Information. Their website is very busy, which I list as a con below. But if you are patient you will find a bunch of information about their products. Ingredients, nutritional value, allergens, directions, total weight, and lots more can be found on their website.
• Bucket Opening Instructions. Their white buckets are BPA-free and have re-sealable pull-top lid.

Cons

• Busy Website. Their website homepage has a moving screen and a lot of options giving it a cluttered look. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for you might feel a bit overwhelmed at first glance.
• Opened Shelf Life. I couldn’t find anywhere that details how long each product is good for after it has been opened.

7. Valley Food Storage

Your Rewards and Incentives Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

Valley Food Storage does a great job of giving back to its customers through a rewards system. Sign up for free and earn points for every purchase you make. Those points can be redeemed on your next purchases. You don’t have to sign up to purchase their products but you won’t earn points either. They also have a referral program that earns you coupons. Check out some of the pros and cons of Valley Food Storage.

Pros

• Stackable water-resistant buckets. Valley Food Storage packages their foods in stackable water-resistant buckets which makes for simple storage.
• Shelf Life. They offer a 25-year shelf life when properly stored and kept sealed.
• Samples. They have a sample program, which most companies don’t offer. Unfortunately because of COVID-19 it has been suspended. I thought it was important to note as a pro because it could be reopened at any time!
• Website. Valley Food Storage’s website is clean, uncluttered, and easy to navigate. The images of their products are also attractive.
• Mylar Bags. All of their products are sealed in Mylar bags and then packaged in stackable water-resistant buckets.
• Kits. Valley Food Storage offers a variety of kits ranging from 175 servings to 4200 servings.
• Dietary Restricted Foods. They offer dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and vegetarian options.
• Referral Incentives. Family Table Rewards is a program that Valley Food Storage offers. Basically you refer friends and family to their products and give them a coupon. If they purchase using your coupon then you will receive a coupon as well.
• Earn Point and Rewards. As part of signing up for their Family Table Rewards program you earn points for every purchase you make. You then redeem those points on your next purchases.
• Financing Options. They offer financing services, which helps for those of us on a tight budget.
• Food Preparation. For each product that they sell under “See Nutritional Facts” you will see exactly how to prepare it.

Cons

• Unknown Kit Inclusions. When you buy Valley Food Storage Kits you are guaranteed a number of resealable bags, but you don’t know exactly what will be included.
• Opened Shelf Life. I couldn’t find anywhere that details how long each product is good for after it has been opened.
• Purchase Accessibility. You are limited to their website for purchasing Valley Food Storage products.
• Bucket Opening Instructions. Most long term food storage products come in some type of bucket and can be tricky to open. Valley Food Storage doesn’t go into any detail on their website on how to open their buckets. I recommend that you purchase a paint can opener like this one to make your life much easier!

8. 4Patriots

Your No-Fuss Long Term Food Storage SOLUTION

4Patriots (not to be confused with My Patriot Supply which we talked about above) gets right down to the point. They began in Nashville, Tennessee and cater to the survival needs of its customers. They keep their product options small, which can make for a very simple shopping experience. Check out some of the pros and cons below.

Pros

• 100% Money-Back Guarantee. This is pretty great! 4Patriots offers a 100% money-back guarantee! If you are not satisfied with their product they say that you can return it within 365 days from the date of purchase and they will refund you 100%.
• Emergency Food Bars. One of their best selling products is their “Hunger Buster” food bars. You don’t need to add water or heat these guys up. They are ready to eat which makes for a terrific emergency food! Add them to your Bug Out Bag or stash a few in your glove compartment. Either way, they would be great to have on hand. And they can withstand extreme temperatures as low as -40 °F and as high as 300 degrees.
• Slim-Line Tote. You have to do some digging on their website to know for sure, but their 4-week kit comes in a slim-line tote with handles. This is a pretty unique design because most companies are using buckets or pails. 
• Free Gifts: Included in your purchase will be some kind of digital book to add to your emergency preparedness library. They offer The Ultimate Digital Survival Handbook, Water Survival Guide, Survival Garden Guide, and others.
• Shelf Life Unopened Food: 25 years.
• Shelf Life Emergency Bars: 5 years.
• Limited Options. In my opinion this is both a pro and a con. Down below I explain why I put it as a con. In regards to limited options being a pro, it means that your shopping experience is uncluttered with decision making. For some of us this is a plus! We just want to get in, add it to our cart and be done with it. No fuss shopping! 😃 
• Other Emergency Essentials. 4Patriots also includes many solar and water options for you to choose from.
• Availability. Some of 4Patriots products are available for purchase on Amazon.

Cons

• Dietary Restricted Foods. None of their products are certified gluten free. Some of their foods are naturally gluten free, but it’s up to you to check the labeling. 
• Opened Pouches. Once opened 4Patriots recommends placing the opened pouch inside a zip-lock bag, but even with this method it is only good for 2 weeks.
• Limited Shipping. They ship to the U.S. and Canada, but some products are not allowed to be shipped to Canada, Hawaii, or Alaska.
• Limited Options. As mentioned above I included this point as a pro and a con. As far as limited options being a con, it means that you have way less to choose from. At this time 4Patriots doesn’t have any kits larger than 4-weeks.

Comparison Chart

*Thrive Life does not sell prepackaged buckets so they are not included on my chart.

Click below for current prices:

1. My Patriot Supply
2. Emergency Essentials
3. Thrive Life
4. ReadyWise
5. Augason Farms
6. Legacy Food Storage
7. Valley Food Storage
8. 4Patriots

Conclusion

With so many options on the market it’s important to make an educated decision and choose a survival food company that meets your needs. I hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you highlighting some of the pros and cons of each company.

Please tell me in the comments which is your preferred company and why. And if I didn’t include your favorite please tell me in the comments as well so we can all benefit.

Keepsm:)ing!