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Agriculture

  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
1 2 3 4 »
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Latest News Business Observer

1
  • March 25, 2026
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2
  • March 25, 2026
BayCare to open new urgent care in eastern Hillsborough
3
  • March 24, 2026
Saks changes its mind: Sarasota-UTC store will remain open
4
  • March 24, 2026
233 acres in Charlotte County sold to Amazon
5
  • March 24, 2026
Sarasota angel investors back local software startup

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