So, in 2002, she decided to run a factory that makes products with little chance of being outsourced: Saltwater taffy.

"You don't come to the Shore to get taffy that is made in China," said Saraceni, vice president of manufacturing for James' & Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City. "You come to get the original taffy that has been made at the Shore since 1880." Food processing is a huge business in the Garden State even though it often took a back seat to high-profile industries such as auto production. Kraft, Johnana Farms and Mars are among the companies here that make everything from animal crackers to yogurt and M&Ms.

James' & Fralinger's is smaller than them, but it's big in the taffy industry. It is the nation's largest manufacturer of premium saltwater taffy packed in collectible boxes. It is considered premium taffy because the company uses high-end ingredients and nostalgic packaging.

During summer, the plant can churn out thousands of packages daily for visitors to the seaside resort. The taffy comes in two sizes, a 1-inch-long "cut-to-fit-the-mouth" version sold under the James' brand, and a 2-inch-long piece of taffy marketed under the Fralinger's name.

-- Star-Ledger researcher Beverly Reid contributed to this report.

Oringinally published online here:

http://www.nj.com/business/ledger/index.ssf?/base/business-9/1109833012311460.xml