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Just want to clarify a few things -

I live in Utah. There is a significant population in Utah that are LDS. LDS members are encouraged to have enough food in storage to last their families for a year. We are told to prepare for an emergency - an emergency can be a loss of a job, a natural disaster, or political upheaval. We frequenty have meetings where we are taught how to treat water for storage, gardening techniques, how to can vegetitables, how to pack a “bug out” or “36-hour” bag - as well as having church sponsored “Canneries” where members volunteer to help can various foods for sending to places in need, or can schedule to can for personal use. It’s a big part of the faith, it’s an instruction we’ve been given and it’s taken quite seriously.

Thus, survival stuff is a big deal here; it may not be a big deal where you live - but it’s a huge industry here.

Costco has 5 gallon buckets full of packets of dehydrated meals, like 65 single serving meals (each meal is 4 servings) and they sell for ~$30. These meals are quite tasty - but they use soy protein, not meat. But, it looks and tastes like meat. Frankly, if I’m living in a tarp, pooping in the woods - a warm meal with soy protein is adequate for me. I’m not picky that way.

Walmart sells the powdered milk, and Chocolate milk (which is really excellent). They also sell 1 gallon cans of dehydrated blue-berries (all natural, no sweetners), strawberries, corn, potatos and mixed vegetables. The berries are convenient - I like to dump them in my cereal, pancakes, waffles for breakfast. Or just snack on them out of the can. I would caution you not to leave the can uncovered once you open it - as the berries will absorb water from the air and go from crunchy/sweet to mushy and not so good.

There are a bunch of other powdered stuff that is really good. Blue Berry muffin mix, pancake mix, some hearty soups - these are really good. Part of what drives this industry here, perhaps better than other place is the land around here. Camping is a big deal in Utah. Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Moab plus camping in the mountains is pretty popular - so a lot of this food is taken by parties (Boy Scouts, family reunions, ect) because it’s easy to carry, easy to prepare and relatively inexpensive.

Finding Food Storage goods here is pretty easy. There are lots of small companies selling all kinds of products - such that companies like REI aren’t even included in the survival company lists.

Personally, I’d love to see this market penetration spread across America. Having emergency rations should be something you would find in ever Walmart store, IMHO. You never know when you need it - and having just a bucket of dehydrated meals in the garage (20 yr shelf life) can mean the difference of everyone living through an emergency, or losing a loved one.