It looks to me like the Specialized Allez has a rear hole for a rack mount -
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi...llez-e5/106308

Lately it seems that Specialized has been putting in the rack mount hole near the dropout so you can mount a rack, but then doesn't put the upper mounts on the bike so that it looks "clean" for the people who want to look like a racer. There's a simple solution though, you buy a seatpost clamp that has a rack mounting point built into it like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/XLC-Alloy-Sea...seatpost+mount

This is what I did to put a rack onto a full carbon specialized sirrus, it looks to me like they went with the same approach there. However, I'm guessing, best to verify in person before buying it.

My experience has been that steel is nicer for comfort on the button, but worse for comfort on the hands, and it doesn't eliminate road buzz. I can't offer an opinion on the specific model you're looking at because "Fuji touring road bike" is a bit vague. :-)

If you want to buy a bike new, your prices are to low. Good entry level road bikes are more in the $800-$1,000 range.
If you want to carry 50lbs worth of groceries you're going to need a sturdier rear wheel than the bike usually comes with. Likely something with 36 spokes. If you live in Minneapolis I'd have one I'd be happy to sell you for half what I paid for it (so $50). But otherwise it's probably about $100.
The drawback of the Allez is that it won't take wider tires if you find that potholes and poor rides require it, whereas a touring or cyclocross bike usually can take wider tires.