Business Briefing: Pumpkin-picking opens at Eckert’s

The pumpkin-picking season is underway at Eckert’s.

Eckert’s pumpkin patches in Belleville, Millstadt and Grafton are now open for pick-your-own pumpkins. Company president Chris Eckert said the summer rainfall was really beneficial and nurtured a very good pumpkin crop.

Eckert’s also has more decorative pumpkins and gourds this year.

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Apple sold 13 million iPhone 6s and 6s Plus phones in the first three days they were available. A year ago, the company sold 10 million IPhone 6 and 6 Plus models during the first weekend. This year, sales in China were included in the initial launch for the first time. Read more here.

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Amazon is expanding its corporate office in Detroit.

Seattle-based online retailer said the office will mean more full-time technology-focused jobs. Amazon already has about 100 employees at the Detroit office who work in software development, engineering and advertising sales. The company has also announced plans to donate $10,000 and 30 Amazon Fire tablets to the Detroit Public Schools’ Carver STEM Academy program. Learn more here.

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Dallas-based Fortune 500 company Energy Transfer Equity has announced its acquisition of pipeline operator The Williams Cos. for approximately $32.61 billion. The deal is estimated at a value of about $37.7 billion, including debt and other liabilities. Find out more here.

-Will Buss, BND business writer

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 9:21 AM with the headline "Business Briefing: Pumpkin-picking opens at Eckert’s."