FOXBOROUGH, MA -- On Thursday, Oct. 15, Katie Pelczar of Dedham, MA, was announced the winner of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.'s tailgate cookoff held at Patriot Place Bog at Gillette Stadium, here.

Ms. Pelczar was one of three finalists to compete for the title, "Unofficial Official Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots." The event was held at the cranberry bog display set up just outside Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.

CHELSEA, MA -- There is a nice feeling among metro Boston's produce distributors, an upbeat mood that business is good, if not great. There is a prevalent sense that there is opportunity for diligent businesses that hustle and are watchful of accounts receivable. Boston apparently has few produce problems that are exclusively Bostonian.

Mexico, which is the largest producer of avocados for the U.S. market, expects to export 705 million pounds of Hass avocados to the United States between July 2009 and June 2010, according to projections from the Avocado Producers & Exporting Packers Association of Michoac?n, commonly known by its acronym APEAM.

After a dramatic come-from-behind victory late Sunday night, Oct. 25, the New York Yankees clinched the American League Pennant and will head to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, with the first game scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Yankee Stadium.

Sonny Di Crecchio, executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, and Matthew D' Arrigo, co-president of the Hunts Point Terminal Market, decided to put the pride and bragging rights of each city on the line to help the hungry.

AVONDALE, PA -- National mushroom sales are up slightly for the year and growers are always eager to meet demand with more volume. It is a long established pattern that characterizes the business.

As of late October, almost all the major U.S. fast-food chain restaurants reported increases in their most recent quarterly earnings over the same quarter a year ago. It's no surprise: the lowest-priced restaurant category was expected to benefit during the bad economy as consumers tightened their spending.

Some wonder, however, if sales at McDonald's, Burger King, Yum Brands and other quick-serve style restaurant chains will start to trickle down as the United States inches toward economic recovery.