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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.