• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

More Industries

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Residential Real Estate
  • Business Support
  • Advertising-Marketing
  • Agriculture
  • Development
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Finance
  • Government
  • Food-Beverage
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Law
  • Manufacturing
  • Philanthropy-Nonprofits
  • Retail
  • Sports-Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Transportation
  • Travel-Tourism

Agriculture

  • By Louis Llovio
  • January 27, 2026
Former Oakes' Farms exec working with feds gets court win ahead of sentencing

A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit claiming the former employee charged with COVID relief fraud stole $12.5 million from the Naples operation will not go back to Collier County courts.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Elizabeth King
  • January 6, 2026
Family-owned garden center opens third store in region

MRT Lawn and Garden Center is now open in North Venice.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Louis Llovio
  • December 25, 2025
Alico continues to reinvent itself year after it exits citrus industry

The Fort Myers company, which had been planning its transformation to a diversified land company for two years, reports progress after walking away from citrus production.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Elizabeth King
  • November 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch nursery sold to Georgia company

CC Landscaping Warehouse Plus was acquired by SiteOne Landscape Supply Inc.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Louis Llovio
  • November 11, 2025
Naples farm operation sues former exec, alleges he stole $12.5M

Oakes Farms contends Steven A. Veneziano Jr. went to bought a Lamborghini, among other purchases, off ill-gotten gains. Veneziano also faces prison for his role in a $5 million Covid fraud case.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Anastasia Dawson
  • October 3, 2025
Keel Farms keeps a glimpse of Old Florida alive with new event space

After roughly a year's worth of renovations, a Hillsborough farm with multiple business lines — and a keen eye for nature — transformed a 125-year-old farmhouse into a lakeside vineyard retreat dubbed The Osprey View.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • By Mark Gordon
  • September 21, 2025
Tervis, Publix and Tropicana make list of Florida’s most beloved homegrown brands

Ron Jon Surf Shop and Gatorade also make the Sunshine State top 5.

  • Florida
  • By Louis Llovio
  • August 3, 2025
Prominent Sarasota corporate HQ up for sale

In the week's top commercial real estate news, a Naples high-end shopping center gets an upgrade, a Tampa condo complex to be "repositioned" as rental apartments, and Manatee buys a historic farm.

  • Florida
  • By Lesley Dwyer
  • July 30, 2025
Manatee County purchases Mixon Fruit Farms for $13.5 million

Commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the citrus farm that operated in Manatee County for 84 years.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Louis Llovio
  • June 25, 2025
4,600-acre Collier development gets assist from DeSantis, legislature

The governor signed legislation to create an independent special district to oversee the development in eastern Collier County.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Eric Garwood
  • June 2, 2025
Hawaii firm wins EPA approval for aquaculture operation off Sarasota coast

Red drum would be raised in an underwater pen, about 40 miles from area beaches.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Louis Llovio
  • May 21, 2025
Citrus, land firm dishes on the transition to becoming a developer

The CEO of Alico Inc. told luncheon audience that the Fort Myers company began looking at changing its approach to business long before shuttering its citrus operations this year.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Louis Llovio
  • May 19, 2025
Governor signs Farm Bill championed by Florida’s Ag commissioner

The far-reaching legislation addresses issues including who can decide where a solar farm goes, food labeling, drinking water and school programs.

  • Florida
  • By Mark Gordon
  • April 4, 2025
Naples firm reaches deal to buy one of the largest poinsettia growers in the US

HF Companies. will acquire N.G. Heimos Greenhouses, billed as one of the nation’s largest poinsettia growers and preeminent greenhouses.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Louis Llovio
  • March 9, 2025
Collier, Charlotte properties included in $84.5M state purchase of conservation land

In the week's top commercial real estate news, a $65 million loan for Fort Myers apartments, a Tampa REIT pays $35 million for a hospital, and South Sarasota acreage sold for conservation.

  • Florida
1 2 3 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commercial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Latest News Business Observer

1
  • February 3, 2026
St. Petersburg Gas Plant RFP draws nine proposals
2
  • February 3, 2026
DeSantis, MLB commissioner support Tampa Bay Rays' stadium plans
3
  • February 3, 2026
California hedge fund makes $1.1B offer to buy MarineMax
4
  • February 3, 2026
Landmark downtown Sarasota hotel torn down for new project
5
  • February 2, 2026
AI, emerging tech at the forefront of annual annual jobs summit

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now