While I'm generally libertarian and I don't like our current regime, I'm in favor of some modest government subsidies on food, especially food that is easy to store. The subsidies should take the form of the government buying and storing the food, and cycling out the middling-old food cheaply to those in need to keep the system moving. (This is not 'taking advantage' of those in need, because I'm explicitly spec'ing out foods that store well and aren't bad just because they're a bit older.) Because capitalism is remarkably efficient, which is just fine, until you plan for about 101% of the food you need this year and some unanticipated massive disaster happens.

(Note that there is a such thing as an "anticipated" disaster. Capitalism does in fact plan for some slack in the system, through insurance, futures trading, and other mechanisms, which is why we don't starve every single time there's a minor drought. But it'll only plan for so many sigmas out from normal, whereas Mother Nature is not so polite.)