Spring forward.

Jay Shannon suggests a yearly training evaluation on mushroom farms in Develop Your Team--Have a Winning Season. In today's business environment, lenders are interested in the reliability of key managers, the strategic aims for the business and a succession plan for owners and mangers. To develop a good team, owners should assess the strengths and weaknesses of family members, add training when necessary and reassign managers to fit talents. He says to call in outside experts for help or to fill a management role in the company.

Communications are Essential to Making Successful Benefit Plan Changes by Shari Janovsky outlines a survey about health care and defined contribution savings plans. Many employers in the study changed benefit packages as an aid to recruit and retain employees. Results of the survey about primary responsibility for health care and retirement show a gap between employers' goals and perception by their employees. When companies provided clear information and tools to support benefit changes, employees responded in a positive way.

"Stirring the Pot" by Keith M. Silfee shares a recipe for success in his Financial Issues column this month. Mushroom growers have a mix of concerns when evaluating whether to expand, improve, cut back or remain the same. While many farms operate with similar equipment and the same raw materials, some are doing better than others. He says the character, attitude and expertise of the owner can be the secret ingredients for a prizewinning formula.

Do you know what "predator friendly," "rainforest alliance certified," or "cage free" means on a label? You will if you read Do Food Labels Make a Difference? by Elise Golan, Fred Kuchler and Barry Krissoff. Consumers look to labels to describe health benefits or specific ingredients that they need or want to avoid. Labels also describe methods of farming, social objectives or third-party certification. The article reviews voluntary and mandatory labeling, costs related to food differentiation on packages, product reformulation and labeling regulations.

Harvesting a Vision is the theme for the 17th International Congress of the International Society for Mushroom Science (ISMS) to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in May. Learn about the program, keynote speakers, travel arrangements and registration in the 17th ISMS Congress article.

In regular columns this month, the Mushroom Council Update highlights the new partnership with Weight Watchers. The Council will be the official Pick of the Season sponsor from July through September 2008. Mushroom growers are encouraged to use the Pick of the Season logo and points graphics on packages. The AMI Update reports on the new Food Safety Training Kit now available to members, and a series of "Train the Trainer" sessions held on the east and west coasts. Personal Computing by Reid Goldsborough focuses on backing up data. People know that they should backup important files on their office and home computers but don't always do it. The four main choices for saving and securing information are discussed with the pros and cons of each.

--Sara Manning, Mushroom News Editor