How Florida continues to rebuild its grapefruit industry
With plans to start harvest in the middle of October, the outlook on the Florida grapefruit season is optimistic. It is almost a tale of two crops, so to speak. The older trees are declining because they've been subject to citrus canker and citrus greening. Meanwhile, the younger trees are thriving thanks to new therapies. More from Fresh Plaza.
Critics say JEA's fee for credit card payments will hurt small businesses
JEA's announcement that it will charge a $150 fee when customers pay more than $1,000 by credit card is getting pushback from a City Council member while JEA says it's looking for ways to ease the financial impact. City Council member Raul Arias said it makes no sense the fee should be so high. He said commercial customers generally are the ones who get utility bills of more than $1,000 so the cost of a $150 processing fee would hit small businesses already operating on tight margins. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Ex-UF President Ben Sasse spending on catering included $38,610 sushi bar
During his brief time as University of Florida president, Ben Sasse dished out over $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football tailgates and extravagant social functions — a figure roughly double the amount spent by his predecessor and one that included a holiday party featuring a $38,610 sushi bar. More from the Gainesville Sun and Fresh Take Florida.
St. Petersburg to sell part of former Moffitt Cancer Center land
The block and a half of downtown, city-owned land once envisioned as a Moffitt Cancer Center campus has sat dormant for two years since Mayor Ken Welch spiked it for not including what he considered enough affordable housing. With a 6-2 vote from City Council Thursday, St. Petersburg city officials will sell a third of the property. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Ripley teams with Dutch company for photo venture
Ripley Entertainment and Amsterdam-based GoPhoto have formed a joint venture designed to expand souvenir photography at attractions in North America. Ripley, headquartered in Orlando, is installing GoPhoto equipment in multiple aquariums and “odditoriums,” museum-inspired attractions stocked with unusual artifacts and information. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Business Beat - Week of September 13th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Florida Dining
Three Florida burger joints rank among the nation’s best. Why fans love them
Florida is home to some of the nation’s top-ranked burger joints — but don’t always expect a bun and patties. The Sunshine State boasts three of the top 20 places to eat a cheeseburger, according to a national list published Sept. 9.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.