Florida’s citrus industry still a vital economic force in state

Despite challenges from diseases, land development trends and extreme weather, Florida’s citrus industry contributed $6.935 billion to the state’s economy in 2020-21. A just-released report from University of Florida economists, “2020-2021 Economic Contributions of the Florida Citrus Industry,” estimated the economic contributions for the most recent citrus marketing season for which data are available. More from Morning Ag Clips and UF | IFAS.

Business Beat - Week of February 17th

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Space launches, cruise ships face conflicts

Ramping up launches at the nation’s busiest spaceport has increased conflicts with cruise ships at Port Canaveral, a space-industry official told lawmakers this week. With launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral expected to approach 100 this year, Dale Ketcham, Space Florida’s vice president of government and external relations, said talks are underway to address increasing issues involving cruise ships arriving and departing at Port Canaveral [Source: News Service of Floriida]

Opinion: As Florida’s economic diversity grows, the need to access capital heightens

Though Florida's population growth has been consistently strong, our lack of economic diversity inhibited the stable economic growth we yearned for. The historically cyclical tourism, real estate, and agriculture industries have been the economy's overwhelming driving force, leaving our economy vulnerable during recessionary economic times. However, the days of people referring to Florida as a "boom or bust state” are long gone. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]

Judge tosses challenge to education law

For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Wednesday issued a 21-page decision dismissing a revised lawsuit filed by students, parents and teachers, who argued the law is unconstitutional. Winsor ruled that the plaintiffs had not “alleged sufficient facts” to show they had legal standing to challenge the law. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Resiliency for three rivers, 50 springs and 12 counties

The Ocklawaha River is the heart of The Great Florida Riverway, a vast 217-mile system beginning at Lake Apopka, flowing north along the Ocklawaha River, past Silver Springs, and ending where the St. Johns River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The river was dammed as part of the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal in 1968, severing a popular boat route and natural migratory route for fish, manatees and other wildlife. The dam, which does not provide flood protection, water supply or power, destroyed 7500 acres of forested wetlands, 16 miles of river, 20 springs and significantly impacted Silver Springs undermining the resiliency of this vital system. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tallahassee lands JetBlue. Here's what it means for airport travelers. [Tallahassee Democrat]
MONEY Tallahassee International Airport lands JetBlue. Here's where they will be flying. TaMaryn Waters Tallahassee Democrat A years-long attempt to secure JetBlue Airlines in the capital city has finally paid off. The New York-based carrier will provide direct daily flights from Tallahassee International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Broward County starting January 2024. The new nonstop service from Tallahassee is part of the airline’s larger vision for its planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines, which will allow JetBlue’s expanded network to provide up to 250 flights per day.

› Art Wynwood returns for the first time since pandemic. Here’s what you need to know [Miami Herald]
We survived Art Basel Miami Beach’s 20th birthday last December. This Presidents’ Day weekend, it’s another Miami art fair’s turn to celebrate. Art Wynwood, a contemporary art fair, returns for its 10th edition at One Herald Plaza Thursday through Sunday. It’s the first time the fair is running since 2020, when the pandemic started.

› Pair of $65M sales lead Orlando's top commercial real estate deals last week [Orlando Business Journal]
Two commercial real estate sales valued at about $65 million posted to public records in Orange and Seminole counties last week, topping the Orlando metro's list of high-dollar deals. In east Orange County, the 346-unit Lakeside Villas apartment community sold for $65.25 million — or $188,584 per unit — on Feb. 7 and posted to public records Feb. 8. In Seminole County, a 42-acre industrial property in Sanford that included three new warehouse buildings finished in 2022 sold for $65.17 million on Feb. 2 in a deal that posted to public records Feb. 6.

› Tampa businessman charged in conspiracy to kill Haitian president [Business Observer]
A Tampa businessman has been arrested and charged by federal agents for participating in planning the 2021 assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moïse. Frederick Bergmann Jr., 64, was one of three men, all with Florida connections, arrested this week and arraigned Feb. 14 on allegations that they were part of the “planning, financing, and orchestration of the assassination.”

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› Manatee County commissioners question unexpected costs under former administrator Scott Hopes [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
County commissioners have expressed concern over projects that have "grown wings of their own" under former Administrator Scott Hopes and are now reeling in expenses on some of the county's most notable projects. County officials used the first public meeting following the sudden separation from Hopes last week to discuss the status of major county projects and their cost.

› Judge sides with state on marijuana license [News Service of Florida]
Florida health regulators were correct to deny a medical-marijuana license to partners and heirs of an 84-year-old man who died before the state made a final decision about awarding the license, an administrative law judge ruled. Moton Hopkins, an Ocala farmer and rancher, was among a dozen applicants for a medical-marijuana license earmarked for a Black farmer who was a “recognized class member” in class-action lawsuits over lending discrimination by the federal government.

› Royal Caribbean extends short cruises on Oasis-class ship from Port Canaveral [Orlando Sentinel]
The short trip experiment with one of the world’s largest cruise ships will continue next year as Royal Caribbean announced winter Florida sailing plans including the three- and four-night trips planned on Allure of the Seas. One of five existing Oasis-class ships, the five largest cruise ships in the world until the arrival of Royal’s new Icon of the Seas at the end of the year, Allure of the Seas will first arrive to Port Canaveral this fall to begin the short Bahamas itineraries.

› Real estate firm Greystar books big office lease at Midtown Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
Midtown Tampa is officially out of space at one of its office buildings. Real estate firm Greystar has signed a 6,150-square-foot lease at the Loft office building, developers the Bromley Cos. announced Wednesday. The lease means the 70,000-square-foot Loft is fully leased out, and Midtown’s offices as a whole are 98% full.