Adding an inclusion such as cheese or a combination of inclusions can turn a plain product into a value-added, high-end item. With a wide variety of ingredients from which to choose, processors can unleash their product development creativity and create unique best sellers. Experimentation can lead to a winning combination, like a cheddar and cranberry summer sausage or a… gummi bear brat?
“We did make some bratwurst with gummi bears last year,” says Bill Dayton of Dayton Meat Products, located in Malcolm, Iowa. “There are guys making gummi bear brats and are selling the heck out of them. They had a good taste. [The gummi bears] kind of melted a little bit when they cooked. I tried some candy corn brats once, but they all melted before they got cooked.”