Standards: What Standards Must You Meet to Supply Ingredients to Specialty Food Manufacturers?

While quality (e.g. taste and freshness) is a high priority for food manufacturers when sourcing ingredients, it is often not enough. Many food manufacturers seek an assurance that specific standards are met in the production of the ingredients they purchase. Certification programs are managed by "third-party" entities that certify, through an audit, that a business is meeting specific standards. Some companies also cater to segments of the market tha seek particular values-based standards related to social, health, or environmental concerns.