• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletter
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 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
    • Change-Makers
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • 40 Under 40
    • 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
    • Change-Makers
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Reprints
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 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
  • 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
  • By Louis Llovio
  • March 7, 2025
Wilton Simpson talks egg prices, farm bill and political future

Florida's Agriculture and Consumer Services commissioners spoke at land conference in Lakeland about how a farm bill can boost farmers, ban fluoride in the water and limit the use of drones.

  • Florida
  • By Lesley Dwyer
  • March 4, 2025
Manatee County reconsiders buying shuttered fruit farm appraised at $16M

The property could become a county complex that includes a library, park and community center.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Louis Llovio
  • February 25, 2025
Naples nonprofit formed to help small citrus growers

Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation is aiming to help small growers "bring abandoned citrus groves back to life."

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Louis Llovio
  • February 17, 2025
Fort Myers’ Alico Inc. has $20 million in land sales pending

The company, which is exiting the citrus industry, says about 25% of the land it owns will be set aside for “non-agricultural purposes.”

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Louis Llovio
  • January 17, 2025
Citrus industry withers as Florida's groves flounder

Despite the best efforts and hopes of the citrus industry, hurricanes and a bacteria continue to batter Florida's diminished defining crop. Yet some survival strategies are beginning to sprout.

  • Florida
  • By Louis Llovio
  • January 6, 2025
Fort Myers land company shutters citrus production, cuts 170 jobs

Alico Inc. is closing its citrus division after more than a decade of declines due to storms and greening.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Beth Luberecki
  • December 20, 2024
Entrepreneurs return to their roots for new events venue venture

Lee County couple Rodney and Stacey Poole are taking it slow while utilizing innovative ideas for a somewhat counterintuitive multimillion-dollar business pursuit: They bought a farm.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Elizabeth King
  • May 22, 2024
Mixed-use transformation ahead for 1,175-acre Bradenton flower farm

SeaFlower will open for residents in summer 2025 in a Manatee County community designed to be walkable with shops, a grocer and restaurants.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Liz Ramos
  • May 21, 2024
Manatee County dairy farm sold to relatives who plan to grow the business

The new owners of Dakin Dairy Farm in east Manatee County plan several changes amid the hunt for new revenue streams. But on aspect — the farm itself — will remain the same.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
1 2 3 »

Newsletter

Sign up to receive our news in your inbox!
Click to Sign Up

Latest News Business Observer

1
  • July 18, 2025
57 jobs cut at Polk County manufacturing plant
2
  • July 18, 2025
Unlicensed contractor imprisoned in Sarasota hurricane scam
3
  • July 18, 2025
SWFL personal injury law firm names co-managing partner
4
  • July 17, 2025
St. Petersburg insurer could take on 32,000 Citizens policies in the fall
5
  • July 17, 2025
Former Pinellas homeless couple now run $1.5M car detail firm

Contact

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

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Observer Local News
  • Orange Observer

  • Accessibility Options

more

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

Newsletter

Sign up to receive our news in your inbox!

Click to Sign Up

Verified Audit

  • USPS Periodicals Permit
  • ISSN# 2325-8195
  • as required for Public Notices per F.S. 50.011
  • Auditor's Certification
  • Copyright © 2025 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