“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.”
— Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business

Funnily enough my kids know her name from her “Imagination Library” first, before her music.

RIP Dolly, you left a dent in this world.

Sincerely

Allison Ellsworth discusses her journey of transforming a kitchen recipe into a successful business, culminating in a $2 billion sale to PepsiCo. The conversation highlights the challenges and strategies involved in scaling her product, Poppi, which focuses on health and wellness. Ellsworth shares insights on entrepreneurship, market trends, and the importance of innovation in the beverage industry, emphasizing her commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction.

The National Restaurant Association's 2026 beverage trends report highlights the growing importance of customizable drinks in driving restaurant traffic. Beverages are increasingly viewed as growth drivers rather than mere add-ons to meals. This shift indicates a significant transformation in menu offerings, emphasizing the need for restaurants to adapt their beverage selections to attract and retain customers, ultimately enhancing overall dining experiences.

A can of Fanta sold in London contains 63 calories, while the same brand in India has three times the sugar content. Additionally, the Indian version includes an artificial dye, which necessitates a prominent health warning in food products sold in Europe. These discrepancies highlight the differences in food regulations and health standards between India and Europe, prompting concerns from health advocates.

Strategic Beverage Services has acquired the US operations of BevZero, a beverage processing specialist, significantly enhancing its dealcoholisation capacity and service offerings in the United States. This acquisition is aimed at meeting the growing demand for dealcoholised beverages, reflecting a strategic move to strengthen their position in the market. The Santa Rosa, California-based company continues to focus on expanding its capabilities in beverage processing.

In a challenging global market, beverage manufacturers are facing increased trial-and-error costs linked to new product development and launches. This surge in expenses is prompting companies across various industries to exercise caution when pursuing product novelties. The current economic climate necessitates a careful approach to innovation, as businesses navigate the complexities of introducing new offerings amidst ongoing market sluggishness.

Traverse Bay Farms has established one of Northern Michigan's most comprehensive tart cherry education libraries. This initiative aims to provide valuable information about tart cherries, enhancing consumer knowledge and appreciation for the fruit. The library is part of Traverse Bay Farms' commitment to education and promoting the benefits of tart cherries, showcasing their versatility and health advantages to the community and beyond.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $20 million purchase of Concord grape juice, providing essential support to grape growers in Chautauqua County and the Lake Erie Grape Belt. This decision follows a visit by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, highlighting the importance of federal assistance for the region's agricultural economy. The purchase aims to bolster the local grape juice industry amid challenging conditions.

FedUp Foods is leveraging the growing consumer interest in functional beverages by focusing on private label products. The company aims to meet the demand for innovative drinks that provide health benefits. This strategic move highlights the increasing importance of private labels in the beverage market, as they adapt to changing consumer preferences and contribute to the overall growth of beverage innovation.

Stone fruit production in Australia is forecast to decline in marketing year (MY) 2026/27, primarily due to above-average minimum temperatures during winter. These warmer conditions have resulted in suboptimal cold chill hours during the tree dormancy period, which is expected to adversely affect bud development and subsequent fruit set. Tasmania, which has a cooler climate, has received adequate cold chill hours, and local cherry growers have had a more favorable start to the season. Cherry production is forecast to decline by 15 percent, while peach and nectarine production is expected to decrease by 10 percent. As a result, cherry exports are forecast to fall by 18 percent, while peach and nectarine exports are expected to decline by 15 percent. Imports are forecast to remain stable in MY 2026/27.

The new Greek lemon crop is projected to be significantly smaller than last year's yield, according to Andreas Mountzouroulias, owner of Citrus Aigialeias. This year's crop is also expected to arrive later than usual. Factors contributing to the reduced size include adverse weather conditions and other agricultural challenges faced by growers in the region, impacting overall production levels for the season.

IFF's recent research indicates that GLP-1 usage is significantly altering food choices and eating behaviors among Indian consumers. The study highlights a shift towards healthier options, with consumers increasingly prioritizing nutrition and wellness in their diets. This trend reflects a broader global movement towards health-conscious eating, driven by the impact of GLP-1 on appetite regulation and food preferences in the Indian market.

The study investigates the effects of acute beetroot juice (BRJ) ingestion on metabolic function, skeletal muscle oxygenation, and cardiac function during endurance exercise in healthy young men under hypoxic conditions. It highlights that exercising in hypoxia causes increased physiological stress, which can impair performance due to reduced muscle oxygenation and heightened metabolic strain. BRJ, rich in inorganic nitrate, may improve nitric oxide bioavailability and oxygen delivery during such conditions.

Researchers at Western University in Canada have identified nobiletin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits like sweet oranges and tangerines, as a potential protective agent against obesity and its associated health issues. The study highlights the significance of nobiletin in addressing obesity, which is linked to various major diseases. This discovery may pave the way for new strategies in obesity management and prevention.

Phytophthora root and crown rot leads to significant canopy decline in citrus orchards prior to visible ground-level symptoms. Current UAV-based detection methods predominantly utilize RGB imagery, focusing on leaf-level classification rather than addressing field-scale localization. This study emphasizes the need for improved detection techniques to enhance early identification of Phytophthora in citrus, potentially mitigating the impact of this detrimental disease on orchards.

Agro-industrial processing produces significant, diverse biomass residues that are often underutilized. These residues present opportunities for sustainable waste-to-value engineering through cascaded biorefineries, which can enhance resource efficiency and support circular economy initiatives. By effectively converting these residues into valuable products, the biorefineries can contribute to environmental sustainability and economic viability, addressing the challenges of waste management and resource scarcity in agro-industrial sectors.