WASHINGTON — Many farm programs will feel the pain of the budget axe, but the just-released farm bill agreement shows that Congress was especially generous to specialty crop programs, which received a whopping 55 percent bump from the 2008 farm bill.

Congress released the long-fought farm bill agreement Jan. 27, and an up-and-down vote on the conference report is expected this week.

Joe Caputo & Sons Fruit Market IGA, owner of three full-service IGA grocery stores in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, has acquired four former Dominick’s locations also in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

The stores were taken over by Joe Caputo & Sons Fruit Market IGA on Jan. 25. Conversion of two stores is expected to begin immediately with anticipated opening dates at the end of March or early April. Another location will open shortly thereafter, and the fourth location will be up and running by the end of the year.

A large R.D. Offutt Co. potato storage warehouse and its contents were destroyed by fire Jan. 21 in Perham, MN, the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association reported in a Jan. 28 e-newsletter.

At a Jan. 22 news conference, Perham Fire Chief Mark Schmidt said about 130 firefighters from 20 fire departments helped battle the blaze, including all 17 departments from Otter Tail County and three more from Becker County.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its annual dinner dance at the Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Jan. 25, with a crowd of more than 500 guests in attendance.

As a leader in West Coast pepper product, Baloian Farms has recently expanded its production possibilities with a new line of equipment designed to process mini peppers.

The new equipment, purchased in the spring of 2013, can serve multiple purposes — its main position will be for packing mini sweet peppers, but will also work for packing baby Bells and hot chilies as well.

Columbine Vineyards, based in Delano, CA, announced the hire of Ryan Debuskey to its sales department on Jan. 15.

Debuskey comes to Columbine with over 15 years experience in the table grape industry.

In his new role, Debuskey will help further develop the company’s growing portfolio of domestic and export accounts.

To announce personnel changes at your company, please contact Assistant Editor Maggie Giuffrida at 201/986-7990, ext. 110, or [email protected]. Photos are encouraged.