Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Monday's Afternoon Update

Greater demand likely for Florida citrus this season

The Florida citrus crop this season isn’t likely to see significant growth in volumes. But growers and shippers are readying for strengthened demand. “The big thing this year will be the impact of Texas from last season with their freeze. Some growers may be completely out while others will be short--but we know Texas will be down. The major impact on Florida will be on grapefruit and oranges,” says GT Parris of Seald Sweet in Vero Beach, Fl. “When there’s a shortage over there, it makes our crop more valuable.” More from Fresh Plaza.

Publix, Kroger jockey for position in ever-changing home delivery market. They're not alone

As Publix and Kroger battle for more online sales, their efforts could be well timed. A report by industry analysts shows overall online grocery sales expanded 4.7% in August this year compared with a year ago. It could be too soon to determine whether the online business at grocery retailers, which grew during the recent COVID surge, will continue into next year as the pandemic is expected to wane. More from the Gainesville Sun.

Tropical storms Rose, Peter swirl in the Atlantic, 2 other systems have potential to develop

As of 5 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Rose was located about 550 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving north-northwest at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend 35 miles, but the system is projected to head northwest into the open ocean with no threat to land. Closer to the U.S. but also expected to turn north in the Atlantic is Tropical Storm Peter. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

JEA increases water fees for builders, will reconsider grandfathering on-going projects

The JEA board of directors unanimously approved a more than 149% increase on one-time water and sewer fees for new housing and commercial development after keeping the charges flat for 15 years. But after testimony from Jacksonville-area builders and developers, the board will consider giving projects under construction or near groundbreaking a grandfather clause to keep existing rates. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Hundreds of new jobs coming to South Florida courtesy of GameStop

As many as 500 new jobs are coming to Broward County courtesy of GameStop. The video game giant announced Monday it was building a new call center and operations hub in Pembroke Pines, in part to locate resources closer to GameStop’s new South Florida-based braintrust. Starting salaries for the new jobs were not immediately available. More from the Miami Herald.

Event
Electric vehicles converge Oct. 2 at Jacksonville event at MOSH

 Get a charge out of electric vehicles on Oct. 2 as the Museum of Science & History hosts a JEA Drive Electric event with new EVs as well as a gathering of owners and their rides. Set for the facility at 1025 Museum Circle, the 2-to-5 p.m. event also includes information on electric vehicles, and an autonomous version being tested now by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

» More from the Florida Times-Union.

 

Felice Gorordo
headline

floridaFelice Gorordo’s personal journey to becoming one of Miami’s leading tech advocates embodies the trip he envisions for others in advancing the city’s entrepreneurial culture — get expertise and bring it home to Miami. Born and raised in Miami, Gorordo is the oldest of three children in a Cuban family. His late mother, a native of Cuba, was a private school administrator. His father left Cuba at age 5 as part of Operation Pedro Pan — an effort by the Roman Catholic Church to bring children whose parents were being targeted by Fidel Castro’s regime to the U.S. — and worked as a Miami police officer for 25 years.

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