Florida citrus growers take another hit; USDA reduces production forecast

Florida citrus growers took another hit Thursday, more than three months after Hurricane Ian swept through the heart of the industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reduced a production forecast for the current growing season by 10 percent for oranges and 16.6 percent for grapefruit and specialty crops. Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Matt Joyner called the forecast “concerning, but not unexpected.” Growers have long struggled against deadly citrus greening disease but also are recovering from the late September hurricane and faced a freeze as 2022 came to a close. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Business Beat - Week of January 13th

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Florida commission urges sweeping mental health reforms

A state commission is urging Florida to enact sweeping reforms to its patchwork system of mental health care. The recommendations come from the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which was created in 2021 after the Parkland grand jury called Florida’s mental health system “a mess.” The initial report blasts Florida’s system as being complex and inequitable. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida manatee deaths drop but starvation still a concern

Manatee deaths dropped in 2022 from a record high the year before, but Florida wildlife officials say chronic starvation caused by water pollution remains a major concern. The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says preliminary statistics show 800 recorded manatee deaths last year in Florida. That compares with more than 1,100 in 2021. Both numbers are higher than the average annual deaths of the marine mammals. More from the  APand the Tampa Bay Times.

Four Florida airports ranked ‘worst’ for flight delays. Why is that and where are they?

This isn’t a great time for American airports. First came a holiday meltdown by Southwest Airlines. Then on Wednesday morning, the grounding of flights due to an FAA tech glitch. Now comes a survey that slaps Florida airports over delays. The survey says Florida airports make up four of the five worst in the country, according to “vacation experts” at Family Destinations Guide, a grouping of travel writers and editors that review hotels, resorts, destinations and attractions. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Economic trends point to Miami commercial real estate skid, Moody’s economist says [Miami Herald]
Much of South Florida’s commercial real estate market is headed for a slowdown that’s expected to thwart certain property deals in the broad sector. In particular, retail, restaurant and hotel operators and owners are facing challenges, said economist Jeffrey Havsy, commercial real estate industry practice lead at risk-assessment company Moody’s Analytics.

› Florida Tech announces creation of Space Coast's first medical school in Melbourne [Florida Today]
Brevard County's first medical school will launch in summer 2024 at the Florida Institute of Technology campus in Melbourne. Florida Tech and Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine have entered into an affiliation agreement to establish a four-year osteopathic medical school at Florida Tech’s L3Harris Commons via a sublease agreement. Burrell College is a private medical school that launched in 2013 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

› Large logistics center under construction in Punta Gorda lands first tenant [Business Observer]
Dakota Premium Hardwoods, a national lumber distribution company, is opening its first Florida location in a new 75,000-square-foot Punta Gorda warehouse. The site of the new facility is the Florida Gulf Coast 75 Logistics Center, which is on the grounds of the Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park. Dakota will build out its own space at the center to meet its needs. The work is set to be completed in August and the warehouse will open in September.

› Rapper Flo Rida sues Boca Raton energy drink maker in endorsement squabble [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Miami rapper Tramar Dillard, better known by his stage name Flo Rida, was in a Broward courtroom Tuesday, helping his lawyer pick a jury to decide his lawsuit against a Boca Raton energy drink distributor accused of shortchanging the rapper on an endorsement deal. According to his lawsuit, Dillard was supposed to rake in millions in stocks and royalties after Celsius Holdings Inc. reached certain sales goals.

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› Miami-Dade spending in covid war nears $900 million [Miami Today]
Miami-Dade County spent more than $868 million through July 1, 2022, for emergency purchases in battling Covid-19, according to legislation coming before a county committee. The Health, Emergency Management and Governmental Affairs Committee is being asked this week to ratify $67 million of those purchases.

› Florida lawmaker proposes banning release of balloons outdoors without court approval [WFLA]
A Florida lawmaker proposed new legislation to ban the release of balloons outside if they are not used on behalf of a government agency, government contract, or for scientific or weather purposes. To let them fly, balloon fans would need court approval. The legislation, House Bill 91, removes a current stipulation that 10 or more balloons not be released by people, companies, or firms, within a 24-hour period if they’re inflated with gas that is lighter than air.

› Hedge fund: No newsroom layoffs at Tegna stations for two years [Jacksonville Daily Record]
A hedge fund planning to buy Tegna Inc. pledged to regulators it will not lay off any newsroom staff at the company’s 64 television stations, including two in Jacksonville, for at least two years. Standard General L.P. also tried to alleviate concerns about its relationship with the owner of Cox Media Group, operator of two other Jacksonville stations, in a Dec. 23 letter to the Federal Communications Commission.

› Spirit Airlines pilots back contract with 34% average pay hike, union says [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Spirit Airlines pilots have ratified a two-year contract with management that will produce $463 million in economic gains including an average 34% pay hike, the Air Line Pilots Association said Tuesday. The agreement affects 2,326 pilots, according to the union, which said that 69% of the Spirit members voted in favor of the pact that is retroactive to Jan. 1. The two sides said they reached a tentative contract last month.