Backpacker's Pantry is a family owned and operated dehydrated food producer. They use both freeze drying and dehydration to dry the food they sell and offer organic and non-organic entrees, side dishes, desserts and snacks. Some of their organic dehydrated foods include tofu pesto, spicy omelet, scrambled eggs, black bean chili pie and blueberry d'lite. Non-organic options include huevos rancheros, granola with blueberries and milk, and biscuits and gravy. Salmon, chicken, beef and turkey entrees are also available.
Offered by REI, the Harmony House Backpacking Kit is a meal kit that has many ingredients to prepare gourmet dishes on the trail. Its ingredients include 18 zip pouches of dehydrated vegetables and beans, as well as red and green peppers, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, sweet peas, onion, tomatoes and lentils. The kit provides enough food to make over 70 meals.
Meals Ready to Eat were originally government-issued dehydrated meals developed for US soldiers. The US Government does not allow military MRE manufacturers to sell to civilians, but civilian MREs of almost equal caliber are available for civilians to buy. Civilian MREs do not tend to have as extensive of a menu as military MREs, but have similar nutritional content. An MRE is a complete meal within a tough package designed to withstand the elements and other rough conditions. Within the pouch is an entree, side dish, cracker or bread, spread, dessert, candy, beverage, seasoning or hot sauce, accessories such as silverware, and a flameless ration heater. Each MRE contains one third of a day's nutritional value with 1,250 calories and mineral and vitamin supplements.
