SALINAS, CA -- Lorri Koster said that growing up in the family business will help her step into a high-profile position with Mann Packing Co., based here. The company's board of directors elected Ms. Koster Oct. 5 to the role of co- chairman. She succeeds her father, Don Nucci, who died unexpectedly Sept. 4.

Ms. Koster, 39, credits her father and Bill Ramsey, the late Mr. Nucci's partner of 39 years, for showing by example what leadership requires.

"Dad was a real mentor," Ms. Koster said. "I want to make him proud."

Stemilt Growers Inc. in Wenatchee, WA, is in the midst of packing and marketing its largest pear crop ever, including a broader array of pear varieties and promotions adding color to the pear lineup.

Mike Taylor, vice president of sales and marketing for Stemilt, said that the company will sell as many as 1.5 million 44-pound-equivalent boxes of pears, up from 1 million in 2005-06. The larger crop for Stemilt comes at a time when Northwest pear growers are forecasting a smaller crop than was originally predicted in June.

As 2007 approaches, Well Pict is touting new strawberry varieties, growing techniques that are increasing production and new packaging as well as the expansion of its raspberry program.

All Well Pict's strawberries are proprietary varieties, and in the coming year, new strawberry varieties will be shipping from all Well Pict's growing regions throughout California and Baja, providing continued year-round volume availability.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Network of Executive Women, a national organization whose mission is to attract, retain and advance women through education, leadership and business development for the consumer products and retail industry, is expanding into the Philadelphia area.

SALINAS, CA -- Following Rep. Sam Farr's (D-CA) lead on the federal level, area industry officials are seeking more localized money to compensate area growers and shippers who suffered losses from the recent E. coli 0157:H7 episode regarding spinach.

NewStar Fresh Foods, a Salinas, CA-based grower, shipper and processor of fresh produce, announced the launch of a fresh spinach packaged in new eco-friendly, socially responsible EarthFirst PLA packaging film. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, began selling 10-ounce bags of NewStar's spinach packaged in PLA film in September.