Florida orange crop down 16 percent from previous year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday pegged the final 2015-2016 Florida orange crop at 81.5 million boxes, a 16 percent decrease from the 2014-2015 crop. Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual said:

“This season marked another challenging year for Florida citrus growers who even under the toughest circumstances always produce the best citrus in the world. In a couple of short months our new season will begin, and I remain optimistic that growers will continue to persevere in the face of HLB, or citrus greening.”

More from the Bradenton Herald, the Orlando Business Journal, and Produce News.

Florida tops nation in dangerous risk of heat and humidity

Florida tops the nation in the growing threat of heat and humidity fueled by climate change, with 13 cities across the state expected to have 100-plus dangerous heat days annually by 2050. [Source: Miami Herald]

Moon Express will test out its lunar lander at historic Florida launch sites

Moon Express — a private spaceflight company that hopes to mine the Moon someday — will be testing out its future lunar spacecraft on Florida’s Space Coast over the next couple of years. The company is moving into Space Launch Complexes 17 and 18 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. [Source: The Verge]

Brexit brings slight chill in state economic forecast

Brexit has caused state economists to shift their forecast for the national economy slightly downward. “Generally, the forecast is weaker than when we met in December,” said Amy Baker, director of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research. [Source: Florida Politics]

See also:
» Brexit already shaking up Southwest Florida real estate market

Tourism officials address algae fears in southwest Florida

Officials are responding to fears in southwest Florida about a massive algae bloom fouling waters on the state's Atlantic coast. The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau updated its website with water-monitoring information and live video of beaches overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. More from the AP and the Fort Myers News-Press.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› USRowing Youth Nationals to return to Sarasota in 2017 [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
After skipping a year, the USRowing Youth National Championships will be held at Nathan Benderson Park next summer, the national organization announced Tuesday. The USRowing Youth Nationals in 2015 brought in 1,993 participants and 4,991 spectators to the Sarasota-Bradenton area.

› Pompano Beach copier company acquires Boca Raton business [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Gold Coast Technologies, a copier company in Pompano Beach, has acquired Apple Business Products, a Konica Minolta copier provider in Boca Raton, the companies announced this week.

› University of Florida listed among 'most valuable' colleges and universities [Palm Beach Post]
The University of Florida is among the "most valuable" colleges and universities in the United States, according to a new study. The Money magazine study ranked 705 schools on 24 factors in three categories: Affordability, alumni success and educational quality.

› Lockheed Martin expanding, adding 300 jobs to Titusville site [Florida Today]
Lockheed Martin officially announced Tuesday it would add 300 jobs to North Brevard County as it expands its role in spacecraft manufacturing and testing on the Space Coast.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Florida traffic jams ahead as economic recovery puts more people behind wheel [Florida Times-Union]
The economic pain of the recession fades in the rearview mirror, but that means Northeast Florida drivers are finding more traffic ahead of them when they hit the road or during their commutes.

› University of South Florida St. Petersburg Brewing Arts program going strong [Tampa Bay Times]
When there's talk about growth of craft beer in the United States, it typically revolves around market shares, shifting consumer preferences and whether or not the current boom is a bubble ready to burst. One detail that's commonly overlooked is the creation of new jobs accompanying such rapid growth.
» See also: Florida brewery earns two medals at national contest

› Uber will now deliver food from Miami’s trendiest restaurants to your door [Miami Herald]
As part of its move beyond transportation, Uber, the fast-growing ride-sharing service, launched UberEATS in the Miami area on Tuesday, joining a full menu on-demand restaurant delivery options in South Florida.

› Fort Lauderdale-based Vigilant Biosciences raises $5 million for oral cancer detection products [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Fort Lauderdale startup Vigilant Biosciences has raised $5 million from investors, bringing its total amount raised to $12.5 million to date. The money will be used for commercial development of the company's OncAlert oral cancer detection product line.