I assume that shelf stable foods are easier for people who live in food deserts or have uneven incomes to maintain. If you live an hour away from a grocery store, fressh produce becomes less of a priority. Honestly having to shop less often than weekly, makes you consider shelf stable foods more. Being low income, makes you consider them just because it's cheaper and I think it's reasonable for the government to prefer to finance food that can last a long time since recipients of the food might not be able to acquire it often.

I also think people forget that there are several regions in the US where keeping a couple weeks of food on hand is not just a choice, it's a realistic smart decision because of the common occurrence of natural disasters.