• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • Big Book
  • 40 Under 40
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Topics
    • Mergers–Acquisitions
    • Crime
    • Job Cuts
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • Influencers & Innovators
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • 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
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Topics
    • Topics
    • Mergers–Acquisitions
    • Crime
    • Job Cuts
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • Influencers & Innovators
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • Big Book
  • 40 Under 40
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Agriculture

  • 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
  • By Liz Ramos
  • December 11, 2023
Despite owner's intentions, some worry Manatee farm will be developed

Jerry Dakin says he will "do everything in (his) power" to keep Dakin Dairy Farms an agriculture property.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Liz Ramos
  • November 27, 2023
Longtime Manatee County dairy farmer puts property up for sale

After 22 years, Myakka City's Jerry Dakin is selling his 350-acre farm, Dakin Dairy Farms.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Brian Hartz
  • August 25, 2023
Farm, winery squeezes new revenue streams with fruitful expansion

Sometimes the best business ideas come from raw experimentation, rather than a specific plan. A fast-growing Plant City winery is Exhibit A.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • By Liz Ramos
  • August 1, 2023
Mixon Fruit Farms leaves a legacy of making memories in Bradenton

Mixon Fruit Farms closed July 29 after 84 years in operation.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Louis Llovio
  • July 19, 2023
130 jobs cut as Plant City tomato producer shuts farm operations

The job cuts hit Plant City, Manatee and Immokalee as Santa Sweets ceases U.S. farming operations because of competition.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • By Jay Heater
  • June 12, 2023
Manatee County lines up to buy well-known farm — but it might take awhile

Manatee County is readying a purchase of Mixon's Fruit Farms through its environmentally significant lands program. It promises to be a lengthy process.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Mark Gordon
  • May 29, 2023
Tampa developer has new weapon in community amenity battle: A farm

Metro Development Group seeks to wow, and win over, homebuyers with a unique farm offering.

  • Strategies
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • February 24, 2023
84-year-old fruit farm, tourist spot listed for sale for $16 million

Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton is nearly 40 acres.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2023
Dairy farm owner on post-Ian survival: 'I’ve never been challenged so much in my life'

The Myakka dairy farm prepares for an a tough road in 2023 as it tries to increase its herd and repair damages from the hurricane.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Jay Heater
  • November 6, 2022
Host of factors forces Bradenton farm owners to consider selling

A deluge of obstacles leads a couple to put Mixon Fruit Farms up for sale. "This is so hard. Anyone who knows farmers knows they love their land," Janet Mixon says.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2022
Well-known Bradenton fruit farm may be looking to sell

Heading into its 84th season, Mixon Fruit Farms has been dealt a couple of tough years and now the owners are considering making some changes.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
« 1 2 3 4 »
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
  • November 7, 2026
Developer closes on purchase of former St. Pete police HQ
2
  • November 7, 2026
Fort Lauderdale HR firm acquires Lutz company
3
  • November 6, 2026
Sarasota Memorial breaks ground on $82.5M Venice rehab pavilion
4
  • November 6, 2026
Want a seat on Tampa's City Council? Applications due Monday
5
  • November 6, 2026
$63M in upgrades coming to country club in Naples

More Industries

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

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848
  • [email protected]
  • Phone: 877-231-8834

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