GM Produce Sales LLC, an importer of Mexican mangos, has added TOM ARGYROS to its sales force.

Mr. Argyros, who will work from the company’s Nogales, AZ, office, is a seasoned sales specialist with over 24 years of experience in produce at some of the larger importers such as Splendid Products, Diazteca Co. and most recently L&M Cos.

One on the provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which became effective Jan. 4, is a mandate for food importers to verify the safety of food they import, though what is being called the Food Supplier Verification Program.

According to the FDA website, under the new law, “for the first time, importers have an explicit responsibility to verify that their foreign suppliers have adequate preventive controls in place to ensure that the food that they produce is safe.”

After months of buildup about a mystery special guest at the National Watermelon Association’s centennial celebration — underway in San Antonio, TX, Feb. 20-24 — hundreds of attendees at the Feb. 22 morning keynote session were stunned when former President George W. Bush strolled through the door of the Westin La Cantera resort to a thunderous ovation, accompanied by a phalanx of Secret Service agents.

Almost 50 million people learned about the cholesterol-lowering capabilities of apples on Feb. 17 from USA Weekend. The popular Sunday publication partnered with the Emmy Award-winning medical television show "The Doctors" to advise Americans on small steps to keep their cholesterol on track, including eating apples.

Mack Farms, headquartered in Lake Wales, FL, hired NICK LEGER as a sales associate.

His responsibilities at Mack Farms include servicing existing accounts and developing new accounts, with some procurement and food safety responsibilities, he told The Produce News.

Prior to joining Mack Farms, Mr. Leger worked at Melon 1 Inc. for two years. He has been working in the produce industry for over five years and was first introduced through his family’s company, L&M Melon Sales/Leger & Son Inc., where he worked during his teenage years.

“We are looking forward to the Southern Exposure event again this year,” Paul Frederic, senior vice president of sales and marketing for To-Jo Mushrooms Inc. in Avondale, PA, told The Produce News.

“Our comprehensive line of fresh and prepared mushrooms will be showcased, and we’ll be promoting a new protein-type item that we are particularly excited about: a mushroom meatball.”