One of the industry’s most talked about topics? Co-manufacturing.

Falling home values. Rising transportation costs. Soaring food prices. It’s not hard to see why consumer confidence is at its lowest level in years.

What does healthy mean anymore? In researching this month’s product development feature on organic food formulation, I came across an article that stated “better for you” doesn’t necessarily mean “healthy” - rather it could mean that a food product is made from higher-quality or organic ingredients.

They say February is the cruelest month. Like so many people wanting relief from winter, food processors last month looked to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for some signs of relief from record commodity feed and/or ingredient costs.

Lately, there seems to be one common worry on the minds of those in the food industry - and on many consumers’ minds as well - rising food costs.

I’m not given to making New Year’s resolutions or predictions. Even so, I do believe that the industry’s talent war will escalate.