New York Apple Sales, headquartered in Castleton, NY, has exhibited at every New York Produce Show since it began several years ago. This year the company will be at Booth No. 162 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center North Hall in Manhattan on Dec. 2-4

Kaari Stannard, president of the company, said that last year’s show seemed to have more retail — or target — buyers.

“And, of course, the show was inundated with both Hunts Point and Brooklyn sellers and buyers,” she said. “We also feel that this year’s show is better timing because it is not so close to Christmas.”

CHICAGO — With over 1.2 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 2,400 exhibitors, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies Pack Expo International 2014 drew record-breaking crowds of more than 50,000 for the Nov. 2-5 exhibition, here. With next-level technology on ample display, the floor looked as much like the set of a futuristic science fiction movie as a trade show.

Beachside Produce LLC, a grower-shipper located in Guadalupe, CA, is approaching peak season of production for its California brussels sprouts and celery. The company said quality is outstanding and supplies will be plentiful through the Thanksgiving pull and well into the Christmas holiday season.

TUBAC, AZ — Jim Kolbe, a national leader supporting global trade, spoke Oct. 30 on that topic during an educational session at the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas 45th annual convention.

Agriculture Secretary Tom J. Vilsack has appointed six members to serve the National Mango Board. The appointees include four new members and two returning members, who will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2017.

The new board members are domestic producer Philip W. Barton of Pescadero, CA, along with importers Greg Golden of Mullica, NJ, Michael Shawn Allen of Sugar Land, TX, and Joella Shiba of San Diego, CA. Also appointed were foreign producers Enrique Sanchez Ramirez of Nayarit, Mexico, and Oscar Orrantia Morla of Guayas, Ecuador.

As the Mexican avocado season moves into its peak production period with a significant volume increase anticipated in the U.S. market for 2014-15, West Pak Avocados Inc. in Murrieta, CA, which has its own sourcing team in Mexico as well as its own packinghouse and distribution facilities, is positioned to enjoy the benefits of that growth in helping customers boost their avocado category sales.