Prepare: Costco THRIVE Long Term Storage Foods

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Family Emergency Food Kit at Costco which many readers did not know was available. I recently came across something even more interesting from Costco's website.

Costco now carries on their online store and perhaps in some retail stores, long term storage foods in bulk. These products are comparable to what Mountain House produces and what is sold by well known and respected outfits like Emergency Essentials and Nitro-Pak.

The brand name at Costco must be a store brand, THRIVE. It looks like many of the products we have heard or tried before. Here are the units and prices:

Shelf Reliance Thrive 6-month, 4 person food supply
Price - $1999.99 shipping and handling included.

Compare this to Nitro-Pak, 6-month food supply for ONE
Price - 1699.99

and Emergency Essentials, Premium One Year supply for ONE
Price - 1549.95

The pricing is better than these established companies for the most comparable products. Note that the Nitro-Pak products contain greater variety and often contain other accessories like water equipment not available from other suppliers.

Here's what is in the Costco THRIVE six-month food supply:

Grains

*
6 Cans of Instant White Rice (48 servings per can)
*
18 Cans of Hard White Winter Wheat (44 servings per can)
*
1 Wheat Grinder
*
6 Cans of Spaghetti (32 servings per can)

Vegetables

*
12 Cans of Potato Chunks (42 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Freeze-Dried Sweet Corn (54 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Freeze-Dried Peas (41 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Freeze-Dried Onions (50 servings per can)
*
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Cauliflower (43 servings per can)
*
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Broccoli (47 servings per can)

Fruits

*
6 Cans of Organic Apple Slices (17 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Freeze-Dried Strawberries (43 servings per can)
*
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Blueberries (50 servings per can)
*
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Raspberries (48 servings per can)

Dairy

*
6 Cans of Instant Milk (65 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Chocolate Drink Mix (65 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Cheese Blend (36 servings per can)

Proteins/Beans

*
The taste and texture of TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) is consistent with real meat, making it a great addition to vegetarian diets
*
12 Cans of Bacon TVP (54 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Beef TVP (44 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Chicken TVP (45 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Pinto Beans (49 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Lentils (52 servings per can)
*
6 Cans of Taco TVP (42 servings per can)
* 12 Cans of Whole Eggs (236 servings per can)

That is a lot of food and it includes a grain grinder (looks to be an upright, counter lock, plastic grinder of unknown manufacture).

There are smaller food blocks available as well with very reasonable prices.

Protein and Wheat pack, 273 servings, 6 #10 cans - 54.99
Vegetable Variety Pack, 277 servings, 6 #10 cans - 89.99
Starter Pack, 477 servings, 6 #10 cans - 84.99
Freeze Dried Fruit pack, 185 servings, - 129.99

All include shipping and handling.

#
Freeze-dried products have up to 20 year shelf life if unopened
#
Dehydrated products have up to 10 year shelf life if unopened

Here is my opinion:

Costco has many retail outlets, is a recognized and trusted name with millions of club members.
Club members and shoppers have demanded this type of product (that should be a sign to all).
The prices are very affordable.
I have not tried any of these yet, and there are no reviews, but if they are available in one of my nearby retail outlets, I know I am going to try them.
Finally, a cost affective way to get Long Term Storage foods, with shipping and handling included, and they look pretty good.

Also take a look at Nitro Pak long term storage foods - Ultimate Family Preparedness Pak

Prepare: Costco Emergency Food Kit

I shop at Costco monthly and it has to be one of my favorite stores. If you are into preparing for the worse, Costco gives you a warm fuzzy feeling when you see all those stacks of canned goods, big bags of rice and multipacks of batteries.

For a review of Long Term Storage (LTS) food companies, click here

I have not seen this particular product at my Costco and I think I know the reason. We don't have hurricanes or earthquakes where I live and this product probably would not appeal to many who shop at my Costco - or so the management thinks. I believe they would be a big seller because so many unprepared people want to do "something".

So what is the Emergency Food Kit? Actually, it is a "Food for Health Emergency Food Kit" as Costco markets it. Inside the weatherproof bucket are 270 servings of food. Like what you ask?

# 25 Servings - Potato Soup
# 30 Servings - Corn Chowder
# 25 Servings - Cacciatore
# 25 Servings - Western Stew
# 30 Servings - Country Noodle
# 25 Servings - Rice Lentil
# 45 Servings - Whey Milk
# 40 Servings - Blueberry Pancake
# 30 Servings - Barley Vegetable

This sounds good, right? The only complaints I have seen online have come from people who have not purchased the actual product. Rather, they either read about it online or examined the product at the store. Reviews from buyers however, say plenty of good things about the food.

The Emergency Food Kit says it has a shelf life of 20 years when stored at optimal temperatures. This puts it along the same lines as Mountain House or Military meals.

The meal sizes are small (1 cup dry) and the calories are low. Most of the dishes have about 140 calories per serving with the pancakes having the highest caloric value of 220 calories. Please note that the product claim is 275 "servings" not days worth of food or even meals, but simply a serving. If you have a family, you know that growing child can eat two or more servings of a dish at a meal. Keep that in mind for reference with the Emergency Food Kit.

Buyers say the food quality is actually very good. Like most survival foods, they say the sodium content is higher than normal foods they eat, but that they enjoyed most of the food selections.

Also, with most long term storage foods, be aware of appetite fatigue. Buyers say the Emergency Food Kit combined with other long term storage foods would make a good meal plan.

Others suggest that buyers purchase multiple food kits rather than a single bucket for a family. Also, be warned that the food must be stored at a constant temperature. I would not store this in the back of the car during the summer for instance. Exposure to extreme temperatures lowers the shelf life of the food and may cause it to become inedible.

What is funny, is the manufacturers of the Food Kit or Costco have not suggested that the bucket can be reused as a toilet. They must not have had a survivalist designing the product.

How about cost? Costco has this bucket of food, with a shelf life of 20 years for the low price of $84.99. That's a good price for some LTS food which may be a good start for a food supply. If anything, the food can be used for camping or hunting trips.

Positives - affordable long term storage foods available at a mainstream retail store. That's pretty good in my book. I just wish they carried it at one of my Costco locations.

For more information about LTS foods, click here