Better-for-you tortilla pioneer La Tortilla Factory has long integrated itself into thriving Sonoma County and supports several area outreach programs.

Third-party logistics (3PL), the use of a third-party business to outsource elements of a company's distribution and order fulfillment services, can help snack producers and bakeries deliver their products more effectively. 3PL providers specialize in integrated warehousing and transportation services that can be customized to meet customers' needs based on market conditions.

Snack and bakery companies frequently need to design and outfit their facilities with ventilation systems to address issues like food and worker safety and avoid cross-contamination.

Tortilla chips and tortillas are as American as they come, even though they are, of course, of Mexican origin. Manufacturers are putting their own spin on new products to entice consumers to buy more, and also to keep the category fresh.

Companies who make dough handling equipment like dividers, depositors and rounders say their customers want equipment that provides safety and sanitation, automation and the resulting labor savings, gentler handling of dough, and the flexibility to run a mix of high-throughput, and smaller, niche lines, depending on the job.

This Bar Saves Lives, led by actors Ryan Devlin, Todd Grinnell, Ravi Patel and Kristen Bell, has a mission of helping alleviate hunger in developing countries.

Consumer demand for convenience packaging and product freshness are driving the design and manufacture of bagging and closing equipment in the snack food and wholesale bakery market. The latest machines feature higher production speeds, smaller footprints, sanitary designs and smart technology.

While many snack categories find themselves reassessing and reformulating amidst healthy eating trends, the snack and nut mix category benefits from being seen as an intrinsically healthy choice.

Fats, oils, starches, fiber, dough conditioners and texturizers all serve critical functional roles in snacks and baked goods, particularly maintaining the quality of the product throughout the desired shelf life. As consumers demand cleaner labels, more health-and-wellness benefits and better sustainability, product developers face a wide range of functional ingredient challenges.

USDA AMS is seeking comment on the proposed final rule related to labeling requirements for GMOs, or bioengineered foods.