KINGSVILLE, ON - When it comes to innovation in fresh snacking, creativity and convenience continue to shape the produce aisle—and Geoff Kosar, Vice President of Marketing at Mastronardi Produce®, says the company’s newest launch captures both perfectly.

“We're really excited to launch Pop Its™,” Kosar shared. “Truly a one-bite cucumber—completely different than everything else in the category today. Really small in size, on average anywhere between four to 5.5 cm. Super crunchy, flavorful, very sweet. Small, tiny, and mighty, we call it. Packs a lot of flavor in a little tiny cucumber.”

Designed for healthy snacking and on-the-go lifestyles, Pop Its™ aims to meet rising consumer demand for fresh, convenient options. “A lot of consumers today are looking to make better choices,” Kosar explained. “I think there's a lot of opportunities for cross-merchandising. It really opens up a brand new market for us in terms of snacking in different kinds of occasions.”

With its combination of bite-sized convenience and bright, refreshing flavor, the company sees Pop Its™ as a category disruptor that expands how shoppers think about cucumbers.

“Pop it, Dip it, Love it,” Kosar added.

Watch the full video above to learn how Mastronardi Produce® is redefining snacking one bite at a time.

GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - Dollar General Corporation announced that Emily Taylor has been appointed the Company’s chief operating officer (COO) effective November 16, 2025.

Taylor, most recently the Company’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, brings more than 25 years of Dollar General experience to the COO role, having joined the Company in 1998. As COO, she will have responsibility for the Company’s store operations, global supply chain, merchandising, marketing and digital, real estate and store development, decision science, and process improvement organizations.

“Emily’s strategic vision and tenured understanding of the vital role DG plays in our customers’ lives will be invaluable as she expands her responsibilities as COO,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer, in the recent release. “During her tenure, Emily and her team have consistently enhanced the shopping experience both in-store and through various digital and delivery initiatives, elevated the Dollar General and pOpshelf® brands, and improved operational efficiency, benefiting customers across the more than 20,000 communities we serve.”

Taylor has held roles of increasing responsibility in numerous areas across Dollar General, including merchandising, pricing, merchandise planning, financial planning and analysis, and investor relations. In 2014, she was named senior vice president, general merchandise manager, with responsibility for non-consumable merchandising, and where she helped to create and launch the Company’s Non-Consumable Initiative (NCI). In 2019, Taylor was named senior vice president of channel innovation and led the development and launch of the Company’s pOpshelf® stores. Since being named evp, chief merchandising officer in September 2020, Taylor has overseen DG’s merchandising, marketing and digital, global sourcing, merchandise operations, inventory management, in-store experience efforts, delivery initiatives and pOpshelf®.

Taylor has been recognized for her achievements as a trailblazer in the retail space and in 2025 was honored as Merchant of the Year by Mass Market Retailers (MMR) and named to the Chain Store Age Retail’s Top Women 2025 list. Other accolades include the 2024 Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery list, 2021 Store Brands’ Top Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence list, 2018 MMR People Who Make a Difference list and MMR Most Influential Women in Retail list from 2016-2020. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her MBA from Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.

In conjunction with Taylor’s appointment, Dollar General is pleased to announce additional organizational changes including the promotion of Bryan Wheeler to executive vice president and chief merchandising officer; the transition of Pooh Vichidvongsa to senior vice president, general merchandise manager; and the elevation of Shareeka Meadows to senior vice president, pOpshelf®.

“Elevating and expanding the roles of Bryan (Wheeler), Pooh (Vichidvongsa) and Shareeka (Meadows) recognizes the ongoing contributions of these three leaders, aligns with our strategic growth across merchandising, and supports an operating priority to invest in the growth and development of our teams,” continued Vasos. “With a strong, experienced leadership team in place across store operations, supply chain, and merchandising, the Company is well-positioned to advance under Emily’s leadership as COO.”

As executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Wheeler will lead all consumable and non-consumable merchandising initiatives, global sourcing, merchandise operations, global inventory management and in-store experience efforts for Dollar General and pOpshelf®. Wheeler’s career spans more than four decades in merchandising, operations and planning. He joined DG in 2006 as vice president, division merchandise manager and has served as senior vice president, general merchandise manager since 2017. Prior to joining DG, Wheeler spent more than 20 years at Kmart in roles spanning merchandising, store operations and supply chain.

Vichidvongsa has served as senior vice president, pOpshelf® since 2024 leading merchandising, marketing and store operations for all stores in 21 states. She now returns to the Dollar General line of business as its senior vice president, general merchandise manager leading categories within family care, including paper, home cleaning, pet and health & beauty as well as private brand strategy. Vichidvongsa joined DG in 2008 and has held several roles including vice president and division merchandise manager for categories in home, holiday, health and beauty; and was instrumental in DG’s NCI rollout. In 2025, Vichidvongsa was named to Home Accents Today’s 20 People to Watch list and has been honored among MMR’s Most Influential Women in Retail in 2023 and INvolve’s HERoes 100 Future Leaders Role Models list in 2022.

Meadows, who joined DG in 2012, has served as vice president, division merchandise manager for pOpshelf® since 2024. In her new role as SVP, pOpshelf®, she will oversee the entire pOpshelf® line of business including merchandising, marketing and store operations. Before shifting to pOpshelf®, Meadows held various roles of increasing responsibility at DG including senior buyer, senior director, and vice president, division merchandise manager of apparel and stationery. Meadows was named to the INvolve’s HERoes 100 Future Leaders Role Models list in 2023, INvolve’s EMpower 100 Future Leaders Role Models list in 2022 and MMR’s Most Influential Women in Retail in 2022.

In addition to these organizational moves and effective November 12th, the Company has eliminated the position of executive vice president, strategy and development and has announced that Steve Deckard has left the Company.

WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) welcomes Congress’s overdue action to reopen the federal government, which helps restore stability to the essential programs that sustain America’s food system.

IFPA issued the following statement from Vice President of Government Relations Rebeckah Adcock in the recent release:

"Congressional gridlock put 48 million Americans at risk of losing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. With government operations restored, critical nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC can once again do what they were designed to do: connect growers and families to ensure access to fresh, nutritious food.

"Reopening the government enables USDA to address urgently needed economic relief for growers that had been stalled amid the shutdown. Farmers have been waiting for economic assistance through emergency support mechanisms available to ease mounting financial pressures.

"The shutdown intensified financial pressures on American families and growers alike. Getting relief programs tailored to the unique needs of specialty crop growers moving again is vital to sustaining farm operations and ensuring consumers continue to have access to fresh, affordable produce.

"IFPA also applauds the Department of Labor’s actions to alleviate workforce disruptions that occurred during the shutdown, which took place during a pivotal season for U.S. agriculture. Restoring H-2A visa processing was essential to the industry’s ability to continue operations.

"Now that government operations are back on track, we urge Congress to build on this momentum by taking action on addressing the need for aid to specialty crop growers for ongoing extreme adverse economic conditions and advancing a streamlined (“skinny”) Farm Bill that includes key investments for specialty crops and agricultural research. These investments strengthen the fresh produce supply chain from field to table and ensure that America’s fruit and vegetable industry prospers into the future.

"IFPA and its members remain committed to working with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to ensure that all Americans have access to healthy, affordable food and that growers have the resources and stability they need to feed the nation."

WASHINGTON, DC - Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and Instacart released the findings of an innovative pilot program that successfully expanded access to fruits and vegetables for families with lower incomes by including frozen produce as an option. Conducted as an extension of PHA’s flagship Good Food at Home program, the pilot was supported by AFFI and delivered via Instacart in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

The Good Food at Home Fall/Winter 2024 pilot provided participating families with $80 per month for three months in Instacart Health Fresh Funds grocery vouchers, to purchase fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables for delivery. The results confirm that including frozen produce is a practical and highly effective strategy for increasing both produce access and consumption, establishing a powerful new model for food security initiatives nationwide.

Key Findings Highlight the Value of Frozen Produce

The evaluation demonstrated that frozen fruits and vegetables support nutrition access and healthy eating for households, especially those facing nutrition insecurity.

• Frozen’s Extended Shelf Life Drives Purchases: The top reason cited by 73% of survey respondents for purchasing frozen produce was that it lasts much longer, directly addressing a major barrier to fruit and vegetable consumption: spoilage and food waste.
• Practical Solution: Nearly all participants, 99%, reported already having some type of freezer capacity at home, indicating that frozen fruits and vegetables are a practical nutrition solution for nearly all low-income households.
• Making Healthy Eating Attainable: Participants reported that frozen fruits and vegetables help them save money, are convenient, and are easy to prepare.
• Variety and Nutrition: Frozen options, such as mixed vegetables (31%) and fruit mixes (29%), were popular, allowing families to add nutrient-rich, easy-to-prepare foods to their meals and diversifying their diets with items like strawberries, mango, broccoli, and corn.
• Pairing with Nutrition Education and Healthy Eating Incentives Drives Change: With financial support to purchase produce and information to educate about the benefits of frozen, participants reported increased frozen vegetable purchasing following the program.

Program Success Across Cities

Across the three cities in the pilot, participants showed high engagement and reported positive outcomes. More than 75% of program participants in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago made at least one purchase with their Fresh Funds and also indicated that the access to produce helped their families build a habit of eating more fruits and vegetables. More than 200,000 total additional servings of fruits and vegetables were made possible through the program.

Overall, 93% of Philadelphia and Chicago respondents said that Fresh Funds allowed them to buy more fruits and vegetables than they could usually afford, and 85% of Baltimore respondents reported the same.

Executive Commentary

“Thanks to our partnership with AFFI, the addition of frozen fruits and vegetables marks a breakthrough in nutritious food access,” said Noreen Springstead, President and CEO of Partnership for a Healthier America, in the recent release. “Our traditional approach of providing produce boxes or credits for fresh items, while effective, often overlooked the issue of perishability for families with limited time, money, and transportation. The positive response to frozen produce—from preventing waste to diversifying diets—proves that it is a critical, modern, and practical solution for driving food equity. By expanding the eligibility to include frozen, we are taking a major step forward in ensuring that every family, in every zip code, has dignified access to good food."

Alison Bodor, President and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute, emphasized the industry’s role. “This pilot program with PHA is a powerful demonstration that frozen foods ensure affordable and practical nutrition is available in every community in every season. By using freezing as nature’s pause button, frozen food makers lock in the nutrients and quality of farm-fresh produce. This means households have year-round access to fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste and helping stretch their food budget further. The data confirms that frozen foods play a central role in ensuring nutrition security and are welcome solutions for today’s busy households.”

“This program demonstrates that when families have easier access to nutritious food, they can build lasting healthy habits,“ said Dani Dudeck, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Instacart. “The continued success of this partnership highlights just how powerful technology can be in removing barriers and making it easier for families to bring healthy food home. This work reinforces what we believe at Instacart – that with the right tools and partnerships, we can make nutritious food choices more accessible for every family, in every community.”

Based on the success of this pilot, PHA is now including frozen fruits and vegetables in all of its Good Food at Home programming moving forward.

WATSONVILLE, CA - Americans crave something sweet nearly every day, and a new survey commissioned by Driscoll’s shows they’re no longer willing to choose between cravings and health. The Healthier Side of Sweet reveals that 42% of respondents believe sweet foods can be healthy, especially when made with natural ingredients. Nearly half of consumers (47%) crave sweet flavors above all others, far outpacing salty (21%), savory (18%), and bitter (0.7%) profiles.

Driscoll’s and We Are Talker surveyed 2,000 U.S. consumers to understand what’s driving current tastes and cravings, and what ultimately motivates them to choose traditional sweets like brownies versus the natural goodness of berries.

Showcasing a shift toward fresh, natural flavors like berries, and away from the artificial tastes commonly found in ultra-processed products, key findings include:

• When given the choice of a “healthy” option, consumers prioritize foods with low sugar and salt (60%) followed by freshness (45%) and whole, unprocessed foods (43%)
• Over half of respondents (53%) said a treat or reward warranted something sweet
• Most consumers are rewarding themselves with something sweet 3 to 4 times a week, and usually around midday (47%)
• 53% of consumers make berries a weekly habit with 16% enjoying berries once or twice a week, 27% enjoying them a few times a week, and 10% enjoying them daily

These findings signal a new era of indulgence where healthy, natural options satisfy cravings and align with Americans’ love for sweet things.

Sweet Doesn’t Have to Mean Sacrifice: Berries are Bridging the Gap

Americans’ affinity for something sweet is undeniable. Nearly half of the survey’s respondents (47%) said their cravings could only be satisfied by something sweet with significantly fewer choosing salty or savory. Sweet flavors were most commonly associated with rewards (53%) or mood-boosting moments (37%) with everyday milestones like finishing work, chores or exercising serving as prompts to enjoy something sweet.

Awareness of whole-food diets is growing among consumers. When asked what makes a food healthy, 43% pointed to whole or unprocessed foods. That preference shows up in behavior: 43% enjoy berries throughout the week, 10% eat them daily and the 76% prefer to eat them fresh, on their own (not as a topping or ingredient).

Chocolate is Popular, But Berries are on the Rise

While chocolate is a fan favorite, berries are rapidly emerging as a top choice for sweet satisfaction. Strawberries lead the pack, with 70% of respondents naming them the most satisfying berry when craving something sweet. The rest of the berry patch followed closely with blueberries at 48%, raspberries at 31% and blackberries at 28%.

Consumers’ appetite for unprocessed and naturally sweetened foods shows in their purchasing motivations. Taste (63%) and natural sweetness (56%) are the top drivers of berry purchases, and an overwhelming majority (86%) say they would purchase foods with real, natural flavor over those made with artificial flavors.

Berries Satisfy Cravings for Sweet, Fresh and Whole Foods

Sweet cravings and preferences for whole, unprocessed food options vary across generations and shape consumption habits. Gen Z craves sweets slightly less than other generations and sees them as fun and celebratory pick-me-ups. Boomers and the Silent Generation showed the strongest preference for natural flavors and fresh berries and have a negative perception of processed foods. They are also most likely to reject the notion that foods can’t be sweet and healthy. Similar to Boomers and the Silent Generation, Millennials and Gen X value freshness and prioritize organic and locally grown ingredients. Of all generations, Millennials were the most likely to view sweet rewards as healthy (46.4%).

When asked which holiday they most associate with berries, each generation selected Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas and the Fourth of July, indicating berry flavors have sentimental value and are associated with large, festive gatherings of friends and family.

Across all generations, berries shine during everyday moments and seasonal celebrations, with breakfast, snack time, and holidays emerging as the most popular occasions for enjoyment. In fact, two in three consumers say they plan to incorporate berries into their upcoming Thanksgiving and holiday dishes, underscoring their emotional and culinary significance.

Often Imitated, Never Replicated: Why Natural Wins

Consumers are increasingly rejecting ultra-processed sweets in favor of whole, recognizable ingredients, especially in fruit-based products. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that natural flavors taste better than artificial flavors and are more likely to purchase these kinds of foods. This same sentiment is true across all berry types.

Berries are more than just a fruit, they’re a lifestyle choice that aligns with modern values around health, taste and emotional satisfaction. Driscoll’s takes this to heart in its more than 100-year pursuit of flavor-forward innovation. Its dedication to delighting consumers with Only The Finest BerriesTM begins with the breeding process which is rooted in natural breeding methods and selects for specific flavor profiles and growing traits informed by consumer insights. The best seedlings are then sent to the fields to be grown with great care by Driscoll’s global network of growers. At peak ripeness, berries are hand-picked and carefully packed to ensure freshness and quality before reaching consumers.

Understanding consumer values and behaviors is what earned Driscoll’s recognition as One of America’s Most Beloved Grocery Store Brands. This standard continues to promote innovation across the fresh produce category, resetting expectations for how fresh produce should taste.

“Flavor isn’t just a feature, it’s the essence of the Driscoll’s berry experience,” said Frances Dillard, Chief Communications Officer, in the recent release. “Our Research and Development Flavor Centers are laser-focused on innovation, turning consumer insights and curiosity into peak flavor. The data confirms that berries do more than satisfy cravings, they’re redefining what sweet means in a health-conscious world.”

For more information on Driscoll’s and the company’s approach to growing Only The FinestTM berries, visit www.driscolls.com.

Survey Methodology

We Are Talker surveyed 2,000 US adults on what encourages and motivates them to choose natural, wholesome, sweet foods over alternatives.

BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has elected John Furner, 51, to succeed Doug McMillon, 59, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart Inc., effective February 1, 2026. Furner was also elected to the company’s Board of directors, effective immediately. McMillon will retire on January 31, 2026, but remain on the Board of Directors until the next annual shareholders’ meeting and help ensure a smooth transition.

“John Furner is the right leader to guide Walmart into our next chapter of growth and transformation,” said Greg Penner, Chairman of Walmart Inc., in the recent release. “After starting as an hourly associate and being with us for over 30 years in a variety of leadership roles across all three of our operating segments, John understands every dimension of our business – from the sales floor to global strategy. He has proven that he can deliver results while living our values. John’s six-year leadership of our Walmart U.S. business during a time of rapid change, marked by digital acceleration and strong associate engagement, has positioned us for continued success.

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Doug McMillon for his extraordinary leadership and incredible impact he has had on our company. Our family and Board have stated many times that Doug was uniquely qualified to be CEO at the necessary time for Walmart. Over more than a decade as CEO, Doug led a comprehensive transformation by investing in our associates, advancing our digital and eCommerce capabilities, and modernizing our supply chain, resulting in sustained, robust financial performance. He leaves Walmart stronger, more innovative, and better aligned with our purpose to help people save money and live better.”

McMillon said, “Serving as Walmart’s CEO has been a great honor and I’m thankful to our Board and the Walton family for the opportunity. I’m incredibly proud of what our associates accomplished and deeply grateful for their commitment to our customers, to each other and to the communities we serve. Thank you, everyone! I’ve worked with John for more than 20 years. His love for our associates and this company runs deep. His curiosity and digital acumen combined with a deep commitment to our people and culture will enable him to take us to the next level. He’s uniquely capable of leading the company through this next AI-driven transformation. He’s a merchant, an operator, an innovator, and a builder. I know that our future is bright with his leadership.”

Furner said, “I am deeply honored by the trust the Board and family have placed in me to lead Walmart, a company that has shaped my life and so many others. I’m grateful to Doug for his leadership and mentorship and the foundation that is built for our future. As we enter a new retail era fueled by innovation and AI, our purpose and our people will continue to guide us. Together, we’ll find new ways to serve customers, support our associates, and strengthen the communities we call home.”

Furner has served as President and CEO of Walmart U.S. since 2019, overseeing the company’s largest operating segment and its more than 4,600 stores. He began his Walmart career as an hourly associate in 1993 and has held leadership roles across merchandising, operations and sourcing. He has lived and worked in multiple countries and served as President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S. Known for his collaborative leadership style, Furner has championed associate development, digital innovation, and operational excellence throughout his tenure.

As the company has done with previous CEO transitions, McMillon will stay on the Board until June, in addition to staying on as an advisor to Furner through FY2027. The company plans to make an announcement on Furner’s successor as CEO of Walmart U.S. before the end of FY2026.