WASHINGTON, DC - Top execs driving retail innovation—the winners of International Fresh Produce Association’s Retail Merchant Innovation Award—will be recognized at the Retail Awards Reception on Oct. 17 at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, CA.

“This year’s winners exemplify how innovation and passion can transform the retail experience and inspire consumers to choose more fresh produce,” said Joe Watson, IFPA Vice President of Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale, in the recent release. “Their leadership is not only elevating their companies but also moving the entire industry forward.”

IFPA awarded winners in five store-count categories:

Michelle Mayhew, Dorothy Lane Market (1-50 stores), Director of Produce, Dayton, Ohio

Michelle has 45 years of experience, with 20+ years at Dorothy Lane Market. Michelle’s passion has always been merchandising, she loves the variety of colors and texture of produce, and views produce merchandising as an art form. When she found her home at Dorothy Lane Market, they enabled her to be a freelance merchandiser, which was a dream for Michelle, allowing her to bring her artistic visions to life. She credits Norman and Calvin Mayne for where she is today because of their faith in her.

Richard Anderson, Smith’s (51-150 stores), Director of Produce, Salt Lake City, Utah

Richard started with Smith’s in 2003 and has held many positions at store and division office levels throughout his career with the majority of his time working in Produce. He has always aimed to approach his job and the business with the customers’ best interests in mind and incorporating the feedback they provide to improve on opportunities to serve their communities. Staying ahead of the game and being open to innovative ideas have helped him improve as a leader while exceeding company goals.

Scott Bennett, Jewel-Osco (151-200 stores), Produce Sales Manager, Itasca, Ill.

Scott Benett has over 40 years of experience in produce, dedicating his career to delivering exceptional quality, driving sales, and elevating the customer experience. He leads with passion and creativity, consistently pushing the boundaries of traditional retail strategies. He is known for his trustworthy leadership, always delivering on commitments and building strong partnerships that help the produce industry grow and thrive. His forward-thinking approach has transformed how customers engage with produce, driving significant sales growth and strengthening Jewel’s position as a marketplace leader.

Michael Collins, Harris Teeter (251-399 stores), Senior Manager of Produce Operations, Matthews, N.C.

Michael Collins oversees produce and floral specialists, merchandising strategies, and store execution. With more than two decades of experience in store management, operations, and merchandising, he is recognized for driving sales growth, improving efficiency, and developing high-performing teams. He has led initiatives on fixture design, department optimization, and operational process improvements, always with a focus on accountability, customer experience, and increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Danielle Hudgick, Sprouts (400+ stores), Sr. Category Manager, Phoenix, Ariz.

Danielle Hudgick oversees sourcing, merchandising, and strategy for avocados, citrus, and stone fruit. She has built a reputation for collaborative leadership, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on organic growth. She is passionate about innovation and driving sustainable growth in produce.

“Congratulations to these innovative retail execs for demonstrating remarkable creativity and dedication to advancing the industry and setting a new standard of excellence in produce marketing,” Watson said. “We look forward to seeing the continued impact of their unique strategies."

GREENSBORO, NC - Leading specialty food retailer The Fresh Market was named the top grocery store across all categories in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

According to USA TODAY, The Fresh Market took first place in the coveted Best Grocery Store category, in addition to Best Store Bakery, Best Store Deli, Best Store for Produce, and Best Store Prepared Food. This marks the first time the premium grocer has placed first in all categories.

“First, I want to thank our guests for such a strong show of support,” said The Fresh Market CEO Brian Johnson in a recent release. “The guest experience is at the foundation of everything we do at The Fresh Market, and for guests to recognize us as the best in so many categories is truly an honor and proof that our brand of impeccable hospitality is a differentiator in the industry.”

“Next, I want to thank our team members for creating an award-winning, premium retail experience,” Johnson continued. “Without your attention to detail and your commitment to guest service and making everyday eating extraordinary, we would not be receiving these awards today.”

“We welcome everyone to come and enjoy our best-in-class grocery experience as we continue to offer the highest quality fresh foods, interesting product assortment, including local favorites, paired with our signature impeccable hospitality,” concluded Johnson.

The clean sweep of USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards is the latest in a string of accolades for The Fresh Market in 2025. Newsweek recently named The Fresh Market the No. 1 grocery retailer in the Specialty/Natural/Ethnic Grocers category. Additionally, the premium retailer’s Own Brands received multiple honors at the Vertex Awards, a global competition recognizing excellence in packaging design.

Nominees for USA TODAY’s 10Best were determined by a panel of local experts and contributors who nominated their favorite American grocery stores based on value, selection, and service. The top 10 winners were selected by popular vote over a 28-day period through the 10Best website.

SANTA MARIA, CA - As a global leader in vegetable seed breeding, Tozer is preparing to host its annual product meeting, a strategic milestone that reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, alignment, and market-driven excellence.

Held semiannually, the meeting brings together breeders, product managers, and sales representatives to evaluate current acreage, review breeding priorities, and analyze market data to help guide future direction. With a focus on key crops such as parsnips, kale, celery, leeks, arugula, and squash, Tozer continues to lead the way in developing high-quality, cutting-edge varieties for an evolving marketplace.

“At Tozer, our goal is to stay ahead of the curve,” said Kraig Kuykendall, General Manager, in a recent release. “These meetings allow us to bring together science, feedback from the field, and market insight to ensure we’re delivering what growers need, both now and in the future.”

This collaborative forum provides an opportunity for teams to take a comprehensive look at pipeline varieties, respond to shifting market trends, and reaffirm Tozer’s goal of delivering high-performing seed to the global stage.

“It’s a chance for us to connect the dots between what’s happening in breeding and what our customers are asking for,” said Anthony Stevenson, Area Sales Representative. “That’s how we continue bringing the right varieties to market.”

For more information on Tozer and its vegetable seed innovations, visit www.TozerSeeds.com.

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) unveiled its fifth annual What’s New? 2025 consumer research during a packed educational session at Southern Innovations. The session featured an interactive format, with Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics presenting the findings in segments, followed by lively table discussions among attendees. Retailers, grower/shippers, and other industry leaders explored the results together, sharing insights and perspectives for a full 360-degree view of what’s next for fresh produce.

Millennials are poised to overtake Boomers as the dominant share of produce spending within two years. “This generational shift isn’t simply about who’s spending. It’s about a different way of thinking about food and the enormous impact this will have on the fresh produce industry,” said David Sherrod, President and CEO of the SEPC. “Millennials are health-focused, digitally inspired, and convenience-driven. Many Millennials are raising families and juggling today’s realities of tighter budgets, picky eaters, limited time, and a desire for trendy, nutritious, and sustainable options. They’re looking to us to provide solutions that make fresh produce fit effortlessly into their daily routines.”

Key findings from the study include:

• Millennials are reshaping fresh produce consumption.
• Millennials drove 68% of new produce dollars at retail over the past year, with Gen Z adding rapid momentum. (source: Circana)
• Boomers still hold the largest share of dollars and units today, but Millennial spending will surpass them within two years as household sizes and incomes rise.
• Since 2021, fruit has outpaced vegetable sales growth, reflecting Millennials’ taste preferences, family dynamics, and focus on convenience.

A different approach to food.

• Many Millennials are foodies yet don’t consider themselves great home chefs. This generation has a love for fast meals, classics with a twist, and global fare. Social media trends can drive trial and variety.
• They are also health-conscious and look for functional foods that sometimes lead them to shortcuts outside of fresh produce department.
• Kids heavily influence Millennial purchases, especially for fruit, while vegetable choices are sometimes modified or skipped to accommodate picky eaters.

Channels, formats, and saving time and effort matter.

• Traditional grocery is losing share to channels Millennials shop far more, including supercenters, club stores, and online. This has led to a subsequent channel shift in produce dollars as well.
• Value-added produce appeals to Millennials, though sales growth was modest as convenience dollars leak to deli-prepared, frozen, and packaged options, such as smoothies, bars, powders, and squeeze pouches.
• Digital platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, along with tools like air fryers and blenders, are shaping purchase decisions to save time and effort in planning, shopping, and preparation.
• Health, sustainability, and transparency are bound to become more important.
  93% of shoppers want clear nutrition or functional benefit callouts, especially for Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and protein.
• Millennials prioritize local, organic, and sustainable produce, and many are willing to pay more, but only when these benefits are clearly communicated.
• One-third of consumers will pay more for lower-impact packaging, with Millennials leading this charge.

“We need to act now, as an industry, to close the vegetable gap through new formats, textures, flavors, and meal occasions that resonate with younger consumers,” added Sherrod in the recent release. “We’ve made great strides in leveraging digital inspiration with video recipes, social media, and shoppable content. When out in the marketplace, I’m seeing the growing focus on highlighting health benefits and sustainability efforts. We have the opportunity to help this generation of parents with ideas on how to engage their kids in shopping, cooking, and snacking to boost household produce consumption. This year’s What’s New? study truly provides the tools and insights to make produce easier, more exciting, and more transparent for the next generation of shoppers. The opportunity is ours to seize.”

The online study among 1,550 consumers was conducted and presented by 210 Analytics. The study fielded in August, 2025. A complete copy of the findings can be requested by contacting Anna Burch at SEPC.