California Table Grape Commission employee Karen Hearn has recently been elevated to the position of marketing director.

Ms Hearn has been with the commission for nine years, and will continue to manage retail accounts and move to directing the group's national programme.

The foci of the company's marketing efforts are Canada and the US, using promotions, advertising, point of sale and consumer education.

The commission was born in 1967 from Californian legislation aiming to increase demand for the state's grapes.