Monrovia, Calif.-based Trader Joe’s will open in West Des Moines, a spokeswoman with the privately held chain of specialty grocery stores confirmed today. Alison Mochizuki said Trader Joe’s will open a 12,200-square-foot store at the Galleria at Jordan Creek, 6305 Mills Civic Parkway, later this year. Since opening in 1958 in the Los Angeles area, Trader Joe’s has expanded to more than 330 stores in 25 states. This location is scheduled to sell wine and beer.

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., the parent company of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., has entered into agreements to acquire three Midwestern-based seed companies, including NuTech Seed LLC in Ames. DuPont will also purchase AgVenture Inc. in Kentland, Ind.; and Hoegemeyer Hybrids in Hooper, Neb. Closings are scheduled to occur in the latter part of 2010. Terms were not disclosed. The purchases will solidify relationships with each of the existing distributors, Pioneer President Paul Schickler said in a press release.

The founder and chairman of Mediacom Communications Corp. has offered to purchase all of the company’s stock for $6 per share in cash, in a bid to take the company private. Rocco Commisso, who owns approximately 40 percent of Mediacom’s outstanding shares, said the offer represents a 13 percent premium above the company’s May 28 closing stock price. The proposed transaction is not expected to affect day-to-day operations of the cable television company. Mediacom’s board of directors has appointed a special committee to consider the offer.

Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and former Iowa congressman, will speak in Des Moines at the Principal Auditorium on June 18 as part of a 50-state tour discussing the importance of civility. The speaker series, “Better Together: Creating Community Through Civility,” is a partnership of Character Counts! in Iowa, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Drake University and Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Reservations for the luncheon event are required by June 16 and may be made online at www.desmoinesfoundation.org under News and Events or by calling 883-2629.