As winter crops are planted, Florida’s Congressional delegation demands protections against Mexican imports

Both Florida’s U.S. senators and two-thirds of the state’s 27-member Congressional delegation are lobbying the Biden administration to protect domestic farmers from “unfairly-priced and high-volume imports” from Mexico on behalf of the nation’s “food security.” The call comes after the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) released an 84-page report on Aug. 30 documenting how “unfair trade practices” allowed U.S. markets to be deluged by Mexican imports, which annually cost Florida’s seasonal crop farmers up to 10-20% in annual “lost” sales – an estimated $4 billion – which “equates to between 17,870 to 35,741 Florida jobs lost.” More from The Center Square.

Florida may consider extending Visit Florida to 2031

Florida’s tourism-marketing agency is getting Senate support to keep its doors open into the next decade. Senate Commerce and Tourism Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, is sponsoring legislation to extend the life of Visit Florida, which has been leading efforts to draw tourists back to the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I have no doubt that compared to 49 other states, we are the shining star,” Hooper said after the Commerce and Tourism Committee received a presentation Monday from Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young. More from the News Servce of Florida.

There’s not much ‘tracing’ in Florida’s COVID-19 contact tracing program

Contact tracing can break the chain of disease transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The White House calls contact tracing “one of the core state preparedness responsibilities” in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister of Australia credits diligent contact tracing with keeping the number of coronavirus deaths in his nation to just under 1,400. But while Florida is spending tens of millions of dollars on contact tracing, it can’t say whether the program is helping slow the coronavirus. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Project Fender could add 100 jobs to 50-person Jacksonville workforce

The city’s chief economic development official says Project Fender, an unidentified U.S.-based marine industry products maker, wants to trade in leased space in Jacksonville and build a manufacturing facility and international headquarters. The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee voted 6-0 on Oct. 11 to file legislation with City Council to approve $250,000 in incentives for Fender’s proposed project. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.

BurgerFi is buying Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza chain in $100 million-plus deal

Two South Florida chain restaurant heavyweights are becoming one – North Palm Beach’s BurgerFi and Fort Lauderdale’s Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza – in a $161.3 million deal announced Monday. BurgerFi says it plans to expand the use of Anthony’s delivery-only ghost kitchen, “The Roasted Wing,” which began in November 2020, as well as opening “smaller, fast-casual” versions of the Anthony’s chain. BurgerFi’s release described the fast-casual eateries as “an additional lever for expected future growth.” More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.