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Agriculture

  • By Louis Llovio
  • September 17, 2026
Former Oakes Farm exec facing decades in prison asks for sentencing delay — again

Steven A. Veneziano Jr., who pleaded guilty to COVID relief fraud, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 26 after previous delays.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Mark Gordon
  • September 4, 2026
St. Pete tech entrepreneur uses AI to help save family farms

AgWise is bringing a bushel of AI technology to an industry — farming — sorely in need of it.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • By Louis Llovio
  • June 8, 2026
Former Oakes Farms exec’s sentencing delayed again

Steven A. Veneziano Jr., who is facing decades in federal prison, is also involved in a lawsuit where he claims to have committed crimes on behalf of Naples’ businessman and right-wing gadfly Alfie Oakes.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • By Louis Llovio
  • March 11, 2026
Central Florida man charged with stealing $600K worth of onions, potatoes

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest and indictment of the 39-year old man who is accused of diverting produce shipments without payment.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • By Lesley Dwyer
  • March 7, 2026
East Manatee bee, berry farms hustle to survive historic cold snap

Two Myakka City farms experienced little to no losses. But it wasn't easy.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Anastasia Dawson
  • February 20, 2026
Florida State Fair's urgency grows as ag industry battles obstacles

Susanne Clemons has served as chairwoman of the Florida State Fair Authority for five years, using her role to champion the state’s agricultural industry.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
1 2 3 4 »
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Latest News Business Observer

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  • September 23, 2026
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3
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$2.3B bank names Polk County market president
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  • September 22, 2026
Nearly 2-acre site near The Quay Sarasota hits market
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  • September 22, 2026
767,000-square-foot Sarasota distribution center listed for lease

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