As Florida's grapefruit supply dwindles, Japanese customers lose interest

In the glory days, not all that long ago, Florida grapefruit farmers built their lives around Japan. Japan has one-third the population of the United States but consumed as much or more Florida grapefruit. Among imports in a typical Tokyo produce aisle, it was second only to bananas. Now Florida’s grapefruit market is in shambles. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» Latest citrus crop forecast from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

'I'm staying': Months after Maria, Puerto Ricans settle in Florida

It is a refrain that has been repeated in recent months by tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who have closed shops, quit jobs and raced to Florida, transforming cities across the state. It's the largest migration ever from the Caribbean island, already surpassing the one after World War II. [Source: NBC News]

Florida could start a criminal-justice data revolution

The Florida Legislature approved a bill, introduced by Republican state representative Chris Sprowls, that requires every entity within the state’s criminal justice system to collect an unprecedented amount of data and publish it in one publicly accessible database. [Source: WIRED]

Opinion: Florida insurance abuse spiraling out of control

Unscrupulous contractors, aided by their attorneys, are exploiting an insurance provision called Assignment of Benefits (AOB) to enrich themselves at the expense of Florida consumers, and politicians in Tallahassee have done little to mitigate this growing epidemic. [Source: Pensacola News-Journal]

Related, from Florida Trend:
» Editor's column: Whose benefits?

Like father … A profile of Universal Engineering Sciences

54 years ago, Sy Israel founded Universal Engineering Sciences. Today, with the help of his son Mark, Universal has become the largest, family-owned geotechnical engineering firm in the U.S. Full story here. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Former Coke Florida president sues company and CEO [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Reginald Goins, a co-founder and former president of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, says he is owed at least $42.8 million after he was fired from his job on March 6.

Backstory, from Florida Trend archives:
» Coca-Cola Beverages Florida: ‘It's about the brand'

› Niche for specialty pumpkins being carved out in Florida [Growing Produce]
Pumpkins are more than just Jack-o’-lanterns. And yes, their purpose goes beyond being a symbol for the fall season, too. Is there a place for specialty pumpkins in Florida farming? UF/IFAS researchers are aiming to find out.

› Maitland software company M2 Systems files bankruptcy [Orlando Sentinel]
M2 Systems, a Maitland firm that specializes in electronic financial transfer software, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company says the bankruptcy was filed mostly because it is appealing a $3.8 million judgment against it stemming from a civil lawsuit in Connecticut.

› Enterprise Florida mission to Costa Rica nets $23 million [Miami Today]
The state’s official economic development organization, Enterprise Florida, reported about $23.2 million in total sales after it led an export mission to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Florida "still in the process" for offshore drilling [Tampa Bay Times]
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke continues to arm critics with confusing statements about the administration's plans for offshore oil drilling. After saying in January that Florida is “off the table” for the federal government’s offshore drilling plans, Zinke said this week that Florida is “still in the final process.”

›Hovnanian Enterprises looks for larger slice of Florida homebuilding pie [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises of New Jersey is no stranger to the Florida market, having been among the first to build “entry-level” condos for first-time buyers in the 1970s.

› Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sets up phony business to catch food stamp fraud [Florida Times-Union]
Nearly 200 people were caught in an undercover welfare benefits-for-cash operation doing deals with a fictitious business set up by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

› Florida voters want to make it tougher to raise taxes, poll finds [Orlando Sentinel]
Backed by Gov. Rick Scott and other Republican leaders, a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder for the Legislature to raise taxes and fees appears to have broad voter support, a new poll shows.