It looks like APS Environment is configured by setting the aps-environment value in an app entitlements file to either development or production. However, it seems to be the case that, by default, Xcode automatically overrides the set value when an app is signed and the value is instead derived from the provisioning profile.
So, for development profiles, you get development (sandbox) aps-environment, and for distribution profiles, you get production aps-environment configured - regardless of how the setting has been configured in the entitlements plist.
This is documented here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/bundleresources/entitlements/aps-environment
That document also states that this default behaviour can be overridden: "These default settings can be modified".
Question is, how to override these default settings. In other words, how to point aps-environment to production, even if provisioning profile is development.
Any insight appreciated, thx.