Taste of the South named Pop’s Praiseworthy Popcorn one of the best 50 people, places, and products in Southern food. We’re honored, humbled, and probably going to celebratory-snack about it for a while.

If you’ve been following along on our journey, you know we started Pop’s with a simple belief: that popcorn could be something truly special. Small batches, real ingredients, flavors that make you stop mid-bag and wonder why all snacks can’t taste like this.

Well, it turns out we weren’t the only ones who thought so.

We are beyond thrilled to share that Pop’s Praiseworthy Popcorn has been named to the Taste 50 by Taste of the South magazine. Every year, the editors compile a list of the 50 best people, places, and products shaping Southern food culture. This year, we’re on it.

What Is the Taste 50?

Taste of the South is one of the most beloved publications in the Southern food world, celebrating the recipes, makers, and moments that define the region’s incredible culinary culture. The Taste 50 is their annual honor roll: a hand-selected list of the products, people, and places they believe are doing something worth knowing about. 

To be recognized alongside the best of Southern food, crafted and celebrated in communities across the South, means the world to us.

What This Means for a Small-Batch Popcorn Shop in Purcellville, Virginia

Pop’s is a small operation. Every bag that goes out our door is made by hand, from kernels we source for quality and pop with care.

That’s what makes recognition like this so meaningful. We didn’t get here with a big marketing budget or a national distribution deal. We got here by making something genuinely good and letting the product speak for itself.

The Taste 50 is a reminder that doing things the right way, even the slower and harder way, still gets noticed.

In Case You Haven’t Met Our Flavors Yet

The four signature flavors that earned us this honor:

• Heavenly Kettle – Our sweet, crunchy classic. The one that started it all.
• Luscious Lavender – Floral, delicate, and a little unexpected. Our most talked-about bag.
• Red-Hot Rosemary – Savory heat with an herby depth. For the person who eats the whole bag, then wonders what happened to it.
• Truffle Lemon Pepper – Earthy, bright, and a little fancy. The bag you bring to the party when you want to impress.

Every flavor is made with all-natural, non-GMO ingredients. No artificial anything. You can see the herbs and spices in every bag, because they’re actually there.

A Little More Context on This Journey

The Taste 50 comes on the heels of a few other moments we’re proud of. In 2024, the U.S. State Department selected Pop’s for the official gift bags at the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. We’ve also been recognized as a Top 100 Small Business. And just last year, we opened our Purcellville storefront, where you can walk in, watch us work, and leave with a warm bag straight off the kettle.

When we started, the goal was to make popcorn people couldn’t stop thinking about. It seems like that’s working.

Come Celebrate With Us

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or you’re just discovering Pop’s for the first time, thank you. This award belongs to everyone who has ever bought a bag, shared one with a friend, or told someone about that popcorn they tried once and couldn’t stop thinking about.

Shop our full lineup online, or stop by the storefront and let us pop something fresh for you. We’re in Purcellville Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we always have something for you to taste.

With gratitude and a very full heart,

~Nicole

Founder & CEO, Pop’s Praiseworthy Popcorn