Dried fruit offers endless possibilities
The versatility of dried fruits can be seen in Bazzini’s new lines of Focus Snacks, which includes Fruit and Nut Bites and Bars and Fruit Smoothies. The Fruit Smoothies are natural, dehydrated fruit that is covered in yogurt and packaged in a resealable pouch for a snack that is “instantly consumable,” said Richard Toltzis, chief operating officer of Bazzini. The Fruit and Nut Bites also are invidivually wrapped in a resealable pouch for light snacking, while the bars are more substantial snacks, but not a meal replacement. One reason the manufacturer likes working with dehydrated fruit is it helps add sweetness to finished products without increasing the amount of added sugar, and it gives consumers highly demanded fiber, added Carrie Madigan, VP of marketing.