The New York Apple Association will again partner as this year’s official sponsor of the 53rd TCS New York City Marathon providing New York state-grown apples at the finish line, at several related events and to race volunteers. More than 50,000 people are expected to finish the 26.2 mile race.

Albertsons Cos. Inc. announced that effective Oct. 24, the board of directors has elected Jim Donald as the sole independent chair of the board.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council will hold a holiday charity reception Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 4-7 p.m. at the Sheraton Cerritos in Cerritos, CA.

La Bonanza Avocados, a family-owned and vertically integrated grower-shipper of Hass avocados, is preparing for the start of Mexican avocado shipments with a focus on increasing its profile on the global avocado front.

The education festival at the recently held IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show highlighted so many worthwhile areas of the produce world. In my humble opinion, among the most important was Feeding Those in Need: Innovative Partnerships in Global Food Distribution — and not to preach, but feeding those in need is a mantra that should be adopted by everybody within the produce industry.