March 28, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/11/2020

Florida citrus industry continues to get squeezed

Production of Florida oranges is now forecast to be about 17 percent below last season’s output, while the industry has seen a surge in demand linked to people staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic and rediscovering breakfast. An updated forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday reduced by about 2 percent the current growing season forecast for production of oranges and grapefruit, which were already projected to be below the yield from the 2019-2020 growing season. Still, the Bartow-based Florida Department of Citrus considered the revised forecast a sign the industry is “relatively stable.” More from the News Service of Florida.

Pandemic still affecting small town businesses across North Central Florida

With most people still avoiding the chaos from their couches and beds, the owners of shops, restaurants and attractions they frequented across north central Florida miss their customers. By some estimates, there are more than 30 million small businesses in the country and about 2.5 million in Florida. Now into Phase 3 of the state’s reopening, many small town businesses in the area are thriving. But many others have struggled. More from WUFT.

Amazon to build distribution facility in St. Augustine

Amazon has received the green light from St. Johns County and is working its way through the review process for specifications needed to build a distribution facility off State Road 16 in St. Augustine. The project is planned for a parcel of almost 60 acres at 3960 Inman Road, which is located near the St. Augustine outlet malls and the I-95 interchange. The warehouse would be about 125,000 square feet. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Thousands of Central Florida residents may see water bills rise sharply

Dave Joswick is stunned that his utility company wants to raise its water and wastewater rates again — to one of the highest in the region — after more than doubling monthly bills for him and about 20,000 other customers in Central Florida just three years ago. After all, Joswick, a resident of the Sweetwater Oaks subdivision in west Seminole County, is mindful to conserve water, using about 3,000 gallons a month, about half of the 6,000 gallons that a typical Central Florida household consumes. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Miami to begin enforcing nightly curfews

Miami city police will start enforcing a countywide midnight curfew this weekend after commissioners unanimously voted Thursday to follow the Miami-Dade rule while COVID-19 cases spike. City police, code enforcement staff and fire inspectors will immediately start educating business owners inside Miami city limits about the change before issuing citations over the weekend. More from the Miami Herald and WTSP.

Business Profile
ZipKord

 For most business leaders, 2020 wasn’t the year they thought it would be. “We were really excited for the beginning of 2020, but 2020 didn’t turn out like anyone expected,” says ZipKord Solutions Founder, President and Owner Jeffrey Rudd. “Ironically, it has been the best year in years.” Getting there has been a whirlwind of shifts and tweaks, where Rudd and his team leaned on some integral business practices they have honed over the years.

» More from the Business Observer.

 

Florida Dining
‘A bull’s-eye.’ Booze-to-go law draws cheers from Florida restaurants

floridaFor Ryan Manning, 2020 has been like throwing 90 darts at a board of ideas to see what sticks. One that Manning called a “bull’s-eye” was serving quarts of sangria as well as canned beer for customers to take home from his Orlando eatery MX Taco. Restaurants were allowed early in the coronavirus pandemic to serve takeout booze by an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis. Now two state senators have come up with bills to make that temporary order a permanent law, if the alcohol is in a sealed container and purchased with food from restaurants.

» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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