WASHINGTON -- Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat four brands of Mexican papayas imported by Agromod Produce, Inc. after a 23-state Salmonella outbreak appears to be linked to them.

The Food & Drug Administration also announced that it would increase sampling of imported papayas after finding that samples tested positive for Salmonella.

LONGUEUIL, QC - A brutally hot July in southern Quebec moderated with a cool breeze July 22 to make a very pleasant day for Quebec Produce Marketing Association's 53rd annual golf tournament.

Frank Musto, owner and president of Hartford, CT-based M&M Produce Inc., told The Produce News that the company continues to focus on its locally grown programs.

“We promote and follow the guidelines of the Connecticut Comes First initiative, which is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture,” said Mr. Musto. “Farmers in our region who support the program typically label their products with the program stickers, and we hand out materials to customers to further support the program.”

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, based in Oviedo, FL, announced the promotion of Nichole Towell to director of marketing. She previously held the position of marketing manager.

With 11 years of service at Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Ms. Towell has been instrumental in the company's sales and marketing efforts. She recently led the charge for Duda Farm Fresh Foods' consumer marketing efforts through digital and social media marketing.

"I am delighted to announce Nichole's promotion to director of marketing," Mark Bassetti, senior vice

PARMA, ID — In the six years since she began her career with Nunhems USA, a part of the Bayer CropScience family of companies, Rebecca Catlett has made a steady climb up the corporate ladder and recently was named to the newly created position of produce chain manager for the Americas.

Ms. Catlett, who started with Nunhems in 2005 as a marketing and communication specialist and advanced

Food safety is top-of-mind in the produce industry these days, and no one is more involved in that pursuit than Bob Whitaker, chief science officer of the Produce Marketing Association and chairman of the Research & Technology Council of the Center for Produce Safety, the University of California-Davis institute that has handed out $9 million in funding for dozens of research projects conducted around the world since its formation in 2007.