WASHINGTON — Nearly $100 million in federal grants will be available for food programs, including $63 million to support specialty crop producers, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday, March 16.

The new funding was unveiled at a speech at the National Farmers Union Convention in Wichita, KS, and later by a press conference with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and others.

Roundy’s Inc., a leading grocer in the Midwest, has appointed Kimberly L. Feil to its board of directors and Gregory P. Josefowicz as its lead director. Robert A. Mariano, Roundy’s president and chief executive officer, will continue to serve as chairman of the board of directors of the company.

Though Vidalia onion season is just around the corner and some growers may start harvesting in a couple of weeks, there is still no word from a Georgia court about a pending challenge to a case that could prevent packing or shipping before April 20.

In August 2013, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black issued a mandate that no Vidalia onion can be packed or shipped sooner than 12:01 a.m. on the Monday of the last full week of April each year — April 20 this year.

Samuel S. Napolitano, a New Jersey produce veteran known for handling seasonal juice grapes and New Jersey plum tomatoes, died Thursday, March 12. He was 84.

To-Jo Mushrooms Inc. has expanded its pre-cooked mushroom line to take advantage of the increased demand for mushrooms in the foodservice arena related to mushroom blendability.

A.J. Trucco Inc., a year-round distributor of kiwifruit and other fresh fruits, has added biodynamic kiwifruit from Italy to its KiwiStar line. Biodynamic kiwifruit is an innovative addition to the market and Trucco is one of the first importers to introduce this product in the United States.