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.

FRESNO, CA -- It wasn't supposed to be this way. When water districts that supply water to millions of acres of orchards on the east side of California's San Joaquin Valley agreed three years ago, as part of a settlement of an 18- year lawsuit brought by the National Resource Defense Council, to allow 225,000 acre-feet of water to be returned to the dry bed of the San Joaquin River for a river restoration project, it was on the strength of certain promises in the agreement that would make the arrangement something by which the districts could abide.

The announcement by C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. last month that it had acquired Florida-based Rosemont Farms and its sister company, Quality Logistics, might not be the last such announcement.

Jim Lemke, senior vice president of produce for Minneapolis-based C.H. Robinson, told The Produce News in a recent interview that Rosemont Farms fits very well within the company philosophy and that C.H. Robinson is always open to similar acquisitions. "If the opportunity is there and we feel we can enhance the services we offer, we are always open to new acquisitions."

WASHINGTON -- The latest changes to the H-2A program will be too costly for employers to work through, and the Obama administration should refrain from making changes until Congress acts on AgJobs legislation, according to the National Council on Agricultural Employers.

Temecula, CA-based West Pak Avocado, a leading grower, packer and shipper of premium avocados from California, Mexico and Chile, has hired Dan Acevedo as its director of business development.

Mr. Acevedo will be responsible for increasing sales with key customers and developing new customers for the company. He will be working with all members of West Pak's sales and marketing team.

WASHINGTON -- With the clock ticking on food-safety legislation, a Senate committee held its first hearing Oct. 22 where Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association's president and chief executive officer, urged Congress not to ease food-safety mandates for small farmers, but rather to offer assistance to help them comply with the new program.