Cuba's snack food market is currently characterized by a strong demand for affordable, shelf-stable products. Due to the tropical humidity of the Caribbean, the primary technical challenge for popcorn and other extruded goods is moisture control to prevent sogginess and maintain crispness.
Economically, there is a significant shift toward localizing production to reduce reliance on imports. This has led to an increased interest in versatile extrusion machinery capable of processing local corn and grain varieties into various sweet corn balls.
The integration of energy-efficient heating systems is crucial in Cuba's current economic climate, where optimizing power consumption during the puffing process directly impacts the commercial viability of small to medium-sized enterprises.
