Book excerpt: Food processing is a way or technique that is used to convert raw foods into well-cooked and well preserved eatables for both humans and animals. Food processing uses raw, clean, harvested crops or slaughtered and butchered animals and turns these into food products for daily consumption. A number of products are nutritious, easy to cook and have a long shelf life. They are packed in an attractive manner and are highly marketable. The food processing industry plays a vital role in the economy of any country because it links agriculture to industry. The food processing industry is responsible for diversification of agriculture, improvement of value-added opportunities, and creation of excess that can be exported. The food processing industry of India is one of the largest in the world in terms of manufacture, use, export, and development. The sector has immense potential to contribute to growth and employment opportunities of the country. Rapid globalization and development of economy has taken a toll on the lives of consumers, particularly those residing in urban areas. Employment growth and increased work pressure in organizations leaves consumers with little time for personal care. Additionally, more product offerings by food companies and marketing on a large scale has altered people’s appetite- they demand more and more processed food items every day. These are some of the reasons for the steady growth of food processing industry in India in the past few years. Some of the biggest companies making their presence felt in the Indian market are Unilever, Dabur, Nestle, Nissin, Cadbury’s, Kelloggs’, Godrej, ITC, Britannia, Kohinoor Foods Ltd., Mother Dairy, Pepsico India, Marico Ltd, Patanjali, MTR Foods etc. Food processing industry is of enormous significance for any country's development because with the changing lifestyle, there has been a consistent increase in preference and demand for packaged foods amongst the population. These can be seen as a great opportunity by the packaging companies. The agricultural strength amalgamated with a various other factors like competent market price and favorable government policies have further aggrandized the food packaging sector. The Major Contents of the Book are Soy Flour & Milk, Banana Powder, Ready to Eat Food (Vegetable Pulao, Dal Makhani, Palak, Rajmah, Potato Peas, Mutter Mushroom), Tomato Paste, Edible Corn Oil, Energy Bar, Instant Noodles, Garlic Oil and Powder, Freeze Dried Vegetables, Banana Wafers, Biscuits, Bread, Candy, Chocolates, Potato Chips, Rice Flakes (Poha), Corn Flakes, Baby Cereal Food, Fruit Juice, Milk Powder, Paneer, Papad, Ghee, Extruded Food (Kurkure Type), Instant Tea, Jam & Jelly, Khakhra, Soft Drinks, Spices, Onion Powder, Cake & Pastry, Garlic Powder, Potato Powder, Besan, Pickles, Ice-Cream Cones, Honey, Flour Mill, Tutti-Fruitti, Confectionery, Chocos (Ready to Eat Breakfast Cereal Food), Ice Candy, Namkeen, Vermicelli, Mango Pappad (Aam Papad), Chilli Powder, Popcorn, Beer Plant, Revadi and Gazak, Mava, Tomato Sauce and Ketchup, Ice Cream, Baking Powder, Moong Dal Bari, Packaged Drinking Water With Pet Bottles, Food Packaging & Labelling, Good Manufacturing Practices in Food Industry, BIS Specifications, Photographs of Machinery With Suppliers Contact Detail, Sample Plant Layouts. A total guide to manufacturing and entrepreneurial success in one of today’s Food Processing Business. This book is one-stop guide to one of the fastest growing sectors of the Food and Agriculture Based Business, where opportunities abound for manufacturers, retailers, and entrepreneurs. This is the only handbook for commercial production ideas of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Food Processing Businesses. It serves up a feast of how-to information, from concept to purchasing equipment.