Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. has hired Kevin Murphy as its senior vice president of supply and operations. Mr. Murphy's responsibilities include production, logistics and distribution, packaging, nursery, quality assurance and food safety. He replaces Al Rodrigues, who retired from this position. Mr. Murphy comes to Driscoll from nearby Capurro Farms, where he served for the last two-and-half years as president. He led the family-owned company through a series of transformations that led to a merger of Capurro Farms with Salinas, CA-based Growers Express. Prior to

Dulcinea Farms has reinforced its leadership with the appointment of Luzius Caviezel as general manager and Keith Kato as senior vice president of sales and marketing. The new management structure places a strong emphasis on sales and marketing, concentrating on key retail customers and the continued growth of the brand. "I am excited about the opportunity to lead the team at Dulcinea Farms," Mr. Caviezel said in a press release. "With a focus on streamlining processes to improve efficiencies and enhance innovation, my management and leadership goal is to exceed the expectations of consumers

WASHINGTON -- A broad coalition of groups urged Congress to continue a pilot program that would allow cross-border truck deliveries into the United States and Mexico, though Congress has passed legislation to cut the program's funding. Since 1982, trucks from Mexico have been allowed to operate within the United States in commercial zones that include cities such as Brownsville and El Paso in Texas; Nogales in Arizona; and San Diego, but U.S. trucks have never had the authority from the Mexican federal government to operate south of the border. The U.S. Department of Transportation began

FRESNO, CA -- "A proposed change to the federal regulations on the permissible levels of loose grapes has California's fresh grape industry and U.S. retailers talking about an earlier survey by the California Table Grape Commission that indicates the change will have no impact for consumers," according to a March 7 press release from the commission. The proposed change would apply only to consumer packs such as bags and clamshells. The commission study, which involved a survey of 1,500 U.S. and Canadian consumers, was conducted two years ago but has current relevance because of a rule change

"Last year was our first large production of the Harper cantaloupe," said Lou Kertesz, vice president of Fresh Quest in Pompano Beach, FL. "It represented about 50 percent of our movement, but it was so successful that we increased our program to 100 percent Harper. It's the 'new generation' of melon." Mr. Kertesz said that the Harper has several qualities that make it a superior cantaloupe. "It looks better and tastes better than others, and it has a considerably longer shelf life," he said. "A sugar level of between 10 and 12 percent is average in the cantaloupe category, but the Harper

A Pennsylvania retail executive was killed March 9. Gary Redner, 55, was found March 10 beaten to death at his Lower Heidelberg Township residence in State Hill, PA, near Reading, PA. Mr. Redner was the executive vice president of procurement for Redner's Warehouse Markets Inc. He had worked for 38 years for the company, which was founded by his parents, Earl Redner of Wyomissing, PA, and the late Mary (Germond) Redner. As of March 18, no details of the homicide investigation had been released. Eric White, consumer communications specialist for Redner's, said that the company would not comment