Since Thrive Life has closed, many of us have been looking for quality alternatives for freeze-dried foods. After a lot of research (and taste-testing!), I’ve rounded up some of my favorite options. These are companies I personally recommend based on product quality, availability, and value.
🥦 Wise Harvest Freeze Dried Foods
- Best for: Everyday pantry staples & health-focused ingredients
- Food is equal or better than Thrive (helloooo amazing pineapple!)
- Huge product line will be available over time (they manufacture themselves)
- Prices similar to or lower than Thrive
- Ships to U.S. and Canada
- Currently selling only Mylar pouch sizes (pantry cans coming soon!)
- Subscribe and Save 15% discount
- Sample pack: $24.99
👉 Click here to purchase a sample pack!
🥘 Thrivalist (Ready Harvest / Mountain House)
- Best for: Bulk preppers & jar meals
- Emergency preparedness focus with education + prepping supplies
- Available in #10 cans, may add other sizes later
- Full product line including meats and dairy
- Food quality: solid, but not quite Thrive level on most items
- Fills cans all the way to the top (not by weight like most companies)
- Subscribe and Save 10% discount
- Sample pack: $29.97 (includes free $597 preparedness course) use discount code “jodischroeder”
👉 Click here to purchase a sample pack!
🛠 Emergency Essentials
- Best for: Survival gear & large emergency supply kits
- Longtime trusted brand in preparedness
- Huge selection of survival tools, cooking gear, and water storage products
- Freeze-dried foods are decent quality, but not as specialized as other brands
- Great one-stop shop if you want food + supplies in one order
Which Should You Choose?
Each of these companies fills a slightly different niche:
- Wise Harvest = everyday cooking, wellness ingredients
- Thrivalist = preppers wanting bulk + variety
- Simply Food Storage = affordable basics + unique bucket items
- Emergency Essentials = inexpensive food and survival gear in one place
✨ My tip: start with a sample pack from Wise Harvest and/or Thrivalist, then see which food your family enjoys most. Once you know what you’ll actually eat, stock up from there!
What about home freeze-dryers?
If this is something in your budget it can be a GREAT option as you can control the source of your food completely, and most likely save money over time. Here are the two products I am currently recommending. I have tried both and there are again pros and cons with each one.
🌾 Harvest Right Freeze Dryers
- Best for: Families or homesteaders who want maximum flexibility and don’t mind a little maintenance.
- Can freeze-dry almost anything — fruits, veggies, dairy, meat, and even full meals.
- Long-established brand with the largest user community, making it easy to find tutorials and troubleshooting help.
- Multiple size options available (small, medium, large, XL) to fit different household needs.
- Requires regular oil changes unless you upgrade to an oil-free pump, which adds cost.
- Known for being loud during operation and requires significant space and a dedicated outlet.
- Cycle times can take 20–40 hours depending on the food and batch size.
💙 Blue Alpine Freeze-Dryers
- Best for: Busy families who want a lower-maintenance, quieter machine with fun colors!
- Designed to address some common Harvest Right complaints, including quieter operation and higher energy efficiency.
- Comes standard with a premium pump.
- Sleeker, more compact design that works in modern kitchens.
- Offers app-based monitoring and alerts for added convenience.
- Product line is newer with fewer size options than Harvest Right.
- Long-term durability and support are not yet as proven.
- Often priced at or above Harvest Right models, depending on promotions.
Hi there! I’m Jodi. I created Food Storage Made Easy to help make food storage and emergency preparedness feel simpler and more doable. This site is home to the tips, recipes, checklists, and resources I’ve created and shared over the years.