SHARE:
Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
International Florida citrus campaign highlights resiliency of industry, quality of its grapefruit
Although Florida citrus producers are expecting the smallest production of crops this year in over 75 years, there’s still good news, the Florida Citrus Commission reports: Florida grapefruit remains in high demand. “As growers, we are no strangers to adversity – natural disasters, pests, and disease are all a part of daily life. But it is how we respond to these challenges that matter most,” Steve Johnson, chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, which oversees the Department of Citrus, said in a statement highlighting Florida’s overseas partnerships. More from the Center Square.
As Tampa’s shiny downtown rises, an old flour mill, and history, disappear
Tampa has been busy morphing into what it will be next. Near where longshoremen once worked the banana docks of a gritty port town, sleek residential towers now rise. In a city that once hid its waterfront behind wharves and warehouses, people meander along a picturesque Riverwalk. Amidst all this sits a last remnant of Tampa’s smokestack past: the old Ardent Mills flour mill. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
'We’ll give them everything they want’: Isle Casino in talks to add corporate headquarters to huge redevelopment project
The massive 223-acre redevelopment plan for Isle Casino Pompano Park, which already includes an expanded casino, entertainment complex, hotel and residential elements, is looking to increase its footprint in South Florida with the addition of a major company headquarters on-site. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the economic development arm of Broward County, is working with a company on the idea, but all parties are being tight-lipped about it at this point. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
How long will Central Florida stay a seller's market?
Buckle up buyers and renters: Orlando is set to remain a seller's market for quite some time. Homes in Central Florida have been hard to come by with the market red hot right now – and experts say it's going to stay that way for the next 12 months. According to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, home sales have spiked nearly 13-percent compared to this same time last year. More from WOFL.
Biggest sand pour in decade restoring Miami-Dade beaches
With sea turtles out in the ocean and permits approved, a major sand renourishment project is set to begin spreading over 10.5 miles of beach in Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour and Miami Beach. The Army Corps of Engineers delivered 830,000 cubic yards of sand for the decade’s largest spread, a $40.5 million project. More from Miami Today.
Out of the Box
At Quirky Fork in Tarpon Springs, a more personal (and unusual) approach to dining
A 50-minute conversation with the owner. A choose-your-own-adventure model where guests more or less design their own meal. A three-hour dinner on a Tuesday night. Quirky Fork in Tarpon Springs does things a little bit differently. And it’s a lot of fun. Owner Andonia Elefteriou opened her petite restaurant and cafe on the corner of Hibiscus Street and E Tarpon Avenue in May 2021. Described as a “euro fusion” cafe, the restaurant’s menu changes daily and is tailored to the whims and wishes of diners.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Profile
CarLife connects car dealers with photographers
Even with a shortage of new and used vehicles, dealers still find it helpful in selling autos to get a magazine-quality photo or commercial video of the actual vehicle out on social media rather than stock images. So says Matt Laux, 26, who founded CarLife, a Delray Beach software company that connects dealers with photographers and videographers.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
In case you missed it:
