Thursday's Afternoon Update
Florida citrus growers prepare for freeze fallout
Citrus growers in Florida are bracing for the fallout caused by a cold snap in January. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is assessing the impact recent freezing temperatures had on the state’s agricultural industry. The agency is evaluating resources that affected businesses may need to recover from the freeze that happened during the last weekend in January. Matt Joyner with Florida Citrus Mutual said it usually takes two to three weeks after a freeze to determine the severity of the damage to the groves. More from WTSP.
Hotel leaders meet while ‘Great Resignation' plays out ahead of spring break
Hotel leaders from around the country met in Miami to talk about changes and best practices to cope with the “Great Resignation” in their industry. A lot has changed in two years. The American Hotel and Lodging Association’s first in person conference since the pandemic began was held at the Hyatt Regency. This comes as worker turnover rocks the industry ahead of what’s expected to be a historic season of travel and tourism. More from NBC Miami.
Orlando construction employment on the rise
Metro Orlando's construction workforce grew by 4,400 jobs between December 2020-December 2021, going from 83,600 to 88,000, according to the Arlington, Virginia-based The Associated General Contractors of America. For all Florida metro areas, Orlando saw the biggest gain during that time, while Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach went up by 3,300. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Miami International Boat Show sales forecast: $1.3 billion
The 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is expected to generate $1.34 billion in sales as the boating industry has gained due to a covid-generated demand increase for outdoor activities. Florida far and away leads the nation each year in boat sales revenues. The Feb. 16-20 Miami International Boat Show, the world’s largest boat and yacht event, will spread out to five locations. More from Miami Today.
Peloton layoffs hit close to home as nearly 60 employees cut in Lakeland
A major restructuring effort underway at Peloton Interactive is being felt locally as 58 people in Lakeland have lost their jobs as the company cut nearly 3,000 of its employees worldwide Feb. 8. Peloton announced the local layoffs in a letter to the state sent to meet federally mandated Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act requirements. More from the Business Observer.
Out of the Box
Mote’s manatees make their Super Bowl predictions
If you’re one of the 31 million people expected to place a bet on this weekend’s Super Bowl, you may be wanting to know what the experts are saying. Two noted local prognosticators announced their picks Tuesday morning. Buffett and Hugh, resident manatees at Mote Aquarium, were in agreement, defying current oddsmakers and picking the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 56 on Sunday.
» More from WWSB.
Business Profile
Behind the beans: Happy coffee guy grows grumpy-led business
When Brian Abernathy moved to Southwest Florida from the St. Paul-Minneapolis area in 2013, he couldn’t find the kind of locally roasted, single-origin coffee he enjoyed. Seeing a need, he began thinking about how he could bring high-quality coffee to this area. He wanted to hang on to his full-time job in software development and sales, so he ruled out opening a coffee shop. But sourcing green beans from around the world, roasting them fresh in Southwest Florida and then selling them to fellow coffee lovers would allow him to start off on a smaller scale and build the business in a manageable way.
» Read more from the Business Observer.