diff --git a/app/views/admin/products_v3/_variant_row.html.haml b/app/views/admin/products_v3/_variant_row.html.haml
index 534c39b8e3..7bc193f1e4 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/products_v3/_variant_row.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/products_v3/_variant_row.html.haml
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
       options: variant.tax_category_id ? [[variant.tax_category.name, variant.tax_category_id]] : [],
       selected_option: variant.tax_category_id,
       aria_label: t('.tax_category_field_name'),
+      include_blank: t('.none_tax_category'),
       remote_url: admin_products_search_tax_categories_url,
       placeholder_value: t('.search_for_tax_categories')))
   = error_message_on variant, :tax_category
diff --git a/spec/support/tom_select_helper.rb b/spec/support/tom_select_helper.rb
index 34a0179d98..957f65f7f2 100644
--- a/spec/support/tom_select_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/support/tom_select_helper.rb
@@ -19,12 +19,25 @@ module TomSelectHelper
     tomselect_wrapper.find(:css, '.ts-dropdown div.create').click
   end
 
+  # Searches for and selects an option in a TomSelect dropdown with search functionality.
+  # @param value [String] The text to search for and select from the dropdown
+  # @param options [Hash] Configuration options
+  # @option options [String] :from The name/id of the select field
+  # @option options [Boolean] :remote_search If true, waits for search loading after interactions
+  #
+  # @example
+  #   tomselect_search_and_select("Apple", from: "fruit_selector")
+  #   tomselect_search_and_select("California", from: "state", remote_search: true)
   def tomselect_search_and_select(value, options)
     tomselect_wrapper = page.find_field(options[:from]).sibling(".ts-wrapper")
     tomselect_wrapper.find(".ts-control").click
+    expect_tomselect_loading_completion(tomselect_wrapper, options)
+
     # Use send_keys as setting the value directly doesn't trigger the search
     tomselect_wrapper.find(".ts-dropdown input.dropdown-input").send_keys(value)
-    tomselect_wrapper.find(".ts-dropdown .ts-dropdown-content .option.active", text: value).click
+    expect_tomselect_loading_completion(tomselect_wrapper, options)
+
+    tomselect_wrapper.find(".ts-dropdown .ts-dropdown-content .option", text: value).click
   end
 
   def tomselect_select(value, options)
@@ -64,4 +77,52 @@ module TomSelectHelper
       end
     end
   end
+
+  # Validates both available options and selected options in a TomSelect dropdown.
+  # @param from [String] The name/id of the select field
+  # @param existing_options [Array<String>] List of options that should be available in the dropdown
+  # @param selected_options [Array<String>] List of options that should currently be selected
+  #
+  # @example
+  #   expect_tomselect_existing_with_selected_options(
+  #     from: "category_selector",
+  #     existing_options: ["Fruit", "Vegetables", "Dairy"],
+  #     selected_options: ["Fruit"]
+  #   )
+  def expect_tomselect_existing_with_selected_options(from:, existing_options:, selected_options:)
+    tomselect_wrapper = page.find_field(from).sibling(".ts-wrapper")
+    tomselect_control = tomselect_wrapper.find('.ts-control')
+
+    tomselect_control.click # open the dropdown (would work for remote vs non-remote dropdowns)
+
+    # validate existing options are present in the dropdown
+    within(tomselect_wrapper) do
+      existing_options.each do |option|
+        expect(page).to have_css(
+          ".ts-dropdown .ts-dropdown-content .option",
+          text: option
+        )
+      end
+    end
+
+    # validate selected options are selected in the dropdown
+    within(tomselect_wrapper) do
+      selected_options.each do |option|
+        expect(page).to have_css(
+          "div[data-ts-item]",
+          text: option
+        )
+      end
+    end
+
+    # close the dropdown by clicking on the already selected option
+    tomselect_wrapper.find(".ts-dropdown .ts-dropdown-content .option.active").click
+  end
+
+  def expect_tomselect_loading_completion(tomselect_wrapper, options)
+    return unless options[:remote_search]
+
+    expect(tomselect_wrapper).to have_css(".spinner")
+    expect(tomselect_wrapper).not_to have_css(".spinner")
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/actions_spec.rb b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/actions_spec.rb
index 16650bd588..897775990a 100644
--- a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/actions_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/actions_spec.rb
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can perform actions on the products scr
     login_as user
   end
 
-  let(:producer_search_selector) { 'input[placeholder="Select producer"]' }
-  let(:categories_search_selector) { 'input[placeholder="Select category"]' }
-  let(:tax_categories_search_selector) { 'input[placeholder="Search for tax categories"]' }
-
   describe "column selector" do
     let!(:product) { create(:simple_product) }
 
@@ -102,54 +98,7 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can perform actions on the products scr
     }
     let!(:product_a) { create(:simple_product, name: "Apples", sku: "APL-00") }
 
-    context "when they are under 11" do
-      before do
-        create_list(:supplier_enterprise, 9, users: [user])
-        create_list(:tax_category, 9)
-        create_list(:taxon, 2)
-
-        visit admin_products_url
-      end
-
-      it "should not display search input, change the producers, category and tax category" do
-        producer_to_select = random_producer(variant_a1)
-        category_to_select = random_category(variant_a1)
-        tax_category_to_select = random_tax_category
-
-        within row_containing_name(variant_a1.display_name) do
-          validate_tomselect_without_search!(
-            page, "Producer",
-            producer_search_selector
-          )
-          tomselect_select(producer_to_select, from: "Producer")
-        end
-
-        within row_containing_name(variant_a1.display_name) do
-          validate_tomselect_without_search!(
-            page, "Category",
-            categories_search_selector
-          )
-          tomselect_select(category_to_select, from: "Category")
-
-          validate_tomselect_without_search!(
-            page, "Tax Category",
-            tax_categories_search_selector
-          )
-          tomselect_select(tax_category_to_select, from: "Tax Category")
-        end
-
-        click_button "Save changes"
-
-        expect(page).to have_content "Changes saved"
-
-        variant_a1.reload
-        expect(variant_a1.supplier.name).to eq(producer_to_select)
-        expect(variant_a1.primary_taxon.name).to eq(category_to_select)
-        expect(variant_a1.tax_category.name).to eq(tax_category_to_select)
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when they are over 11" do
+    context "when there are products" do
       before do
         create_list(:supplier_enterprise, 11, users: [user])
         create_list(:tax_category, 11)
@@ -167,9 +116,13 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can perform actions on the products scr
         tax_category_to_select = random_tax_category
 
         within row_containing_name(variant_a1.display_name) do
-          tomselect_search_and_select(producer_to_select, from: "Producer")
-          tomselect_search_and_select(category_to_select, from: "Category")
-          tomselect_search_and_select(tax_category_to_select, from: "Tax Category")
+          tomselect_search_and_select(producer_to_select, from: "Producer", remote_search: true)
+          tomselect_search_and_select(category_to_select, from: "Category", remote_search: true)
+          tomselect_search_and_select(
+            tax_category_to_select,
+            from: "Tax Category",
+            remote_search: true
+          )
         end
 
         click_button "Save changes"
diff --git a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/create_spec.rb b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/create_spec.rb
index 965d9f9e99..04f90abcaf 100644
--- a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/create_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/create_spec.rb
@@ -86,14 +86,14 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can manage my products' do
           find('button[aria-label="On Hand"]').click
           find('input[id$="_price"]').fill_in with: "11.1"
 
-          select supplier.name, from: 'Producer'
-          select taxon.name, from: 'Category'
-
           if stock == "on_hand"
             find('input[id$="_on_hand_desired"]').fill_in with: "66"
           elsif stock == "on_demand"
             find('input[id$="_on_demand_desired"]').check
           end
+
+          tomselect_select supplier.name, from: 'Producer'
+          tomselect_select taxon.name, from: 'Category'
         end
 
         expect(page).to have_content "1 product modified."
diff --git a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/index_spec.rb b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/index_spec.rb
index d943e5a1d3..d53a391e0c 100644
--- a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/index_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/index_spec.rb
@@ -106,13 +106,19 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can browse my products' do
             visit spree.admin_products_path
 
             within row_containing_name "Variant1" do
-              expect(page).to have_select "Producer", with_options: ["Producer A", "Producer B"],
-                                                      selected: "Producer A"
+              expect_tomselect_existing_with_selected_options(
+                from: 'Producer',
+                existing_options: ["Producer A", "Producer B"],
+                selected_options: ["Producer A"]
+              )
             end
 
             within row_containing_name "Variant2a" do
-              expect(page).to have_select "Producer", with_options: ["Producer A", "Producer B"],
-                                                      selected: "Producer B"
+              expect_tomselect_existing_with_selected_options(
+                from: 'Producer',
+                existing_options: ["Producer A", "Producer B"],
+                selected_options: ["Producer B"]
+              )
             end
           end
         end
@@ -543,24 +549,21 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can browse my products' do
 
     it "shows only suppliers that I manage or have permission to" do
       visit spree.admin_products_path
+      existing_options = [supplier_managed1.name, supplier_managed2.name, supplier_permitted.name]
 
       within row_containing_placeholder(product_supplied.name) do
-        expect(page).to have_select(
-          '_products_0_variants_attributes_0_supplier_id',
-          options: [
-            'Select producer',
-            supplier_managed1.name, supplier_managed2.name, supplier_permitted.name
-          ], selected: supplier_managed1.name
+        expect_tomselect_existing_with_selected_options(
+          existing_options:,
+          from: '_products_0_variants_attributes_0_supplier_id',
+          selected_options: [supplier_managed1.name]
         )
       end
 
       within row_containing_placeholder(product_supplied_permitted.name) do
-        expect(page).to have_select(
-          '_products_1_variants_attributes_0_supplier_id',
-          options: [
-            'Select producer',
-            supplier_managed1.name, supplier_managed2.name, supplier_permitted.name
-          ], selected: supplier_permitted.name
+        expect_tomselect_existing_with_selected_options(
+          existing_options:,
+          from: '_products_1_variants_attributes_0_supplier_id',
+          selected_options: [supplier_permitted.name]
         )
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/update_spec.rb b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/update_spec.rb
index 0da94594f6..4ddeff1578 100644
--- a/spec/system/admin/products_v3/update_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/admin/products_v3/update_spec.rb
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can update my products' do
           click_on "On Hand" # activate popout
           fill_in "On Hand", with: "3"
 
-          select producer.name, from: 'Producer'
-          select taxon.name, from: 'Category'
+          tomselect_select producer.name, from: 'Producer'
+          tomselect_select taxon.name, from: 'Category'
         end
 
         expect {
@@ -586,8 +586,8 @@ RSpec.describe 'As an enterprise user, I can update my products' do
             fill_in "Name", with: "Nice box"
             fill_in "SKU", with: "APL-02"
 
-            select producer.name, from: 'Producer'
-            select taxon.name, from: 'Category'
+            tomselect_select producer.name, from: 'Producer'
+            tomselect_select taxon.name, from: 'Category'
           end
 
           expect {
diff --git a/spec/views/admin/products_v3/_filters.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/admin/products_v3/_filters.html.haml_spec.rb
index a6bcbfbca3..1b2ed5b697 100644
--- a/spec/views/admin/products_v3/_filters.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/admin/products_v3/_filters.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ RSpec.describe "admin/products_v3/_filters.html.haml" do
   end
   let(:spree_current_user) { build(:enterprise_user) }
 
-  it "shows the producer filter when there are options" do
+  it "shows the producer filter with the default option initially" do
     allow(view).to receive_messages locals.merge(
       producer_options: [
         ["Ada's Apples", 1],
@@ -27,9 +27,7 @@ RSpec.describe "admin/products_v3/_filters.html.haml" do
 
     is_expected.to have_content "Producers"
     is_expected.to have_select "producer_id", options: [
-      "All producers",
-      "Ada's Apples",
-      "Ben's Bananas",
+      "All producers"
     ], selected: nil
   end