A federal decision that took effect Thursday opened markets in five states and five U.S. territories to fresh Florida citrus, which was barred three years ago because of fears that shipments would spread canker. ...more

October 23, 2009

Despite the economy, migrant workers are finding jobs locally - at least in citrus. ...more

March 10, 2009

Five Guys Eyes South Tampa Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries has signed a lease to put a new restaurant inside Sunshine Plaza, 4304 S. Dale Mabry Highway, now wholly occupied by Sunshine Thrift store. A real estate Web site also indicates a Verizon store is coming to Sunshine Plaza. ...more

February 11, 2009

Expect a smaller orange crop this season from Florida growers, who are facing skyrocketing fertilizer prices and lower orange juice sales. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its first citrus crop forecast for the year Friday, but here's an estimate. ...more

October 8, 2008

Expect a smaller orange crop from Florida growers this season. Facing skyrocketing fertilizer prices, a souring economy and lower orange juice sales, Florida growers, by some estimates, will produce an estimated 155 million boxes of citrus during the 2008-09 season. That's 9 percent less than last season, when the industry picked 170 million boxes of Florida citrus. ...more

October 7, 2008

An overnight freeze caused only minor damage to Florida's citrus crop, but some strawberry growers suffered significant losses, officials said Thursday. ...more

January 4, 2008

SEBRING — Progress Energy linemen are working Thursday morning to restore electricity to pockets of residents throughout the county without electricity. Chad Demerre, lineman apprentice with Progress Energy, said small outages, affecting less than 200 customers, are common when the weather suddenly becomes cold. ...more

January 3, 2008

An emergency rule designed to guard Florida's citrus crop against a fungus that might be on California fruit shipped into the state withstood an initial court challenge Wednesday. ...more

December 20, 2007

It's a new season at Boyett's Grove. And Jim Oleson is glad he is alive to see it. ...more

October 24, 2007

SEBRING — Here's the upshot from Friday morning's citrus crop estimate: USDA experts don't expect a repeat of the 230 million box bumper crop of the 2001-02 season. But unless there's a disaster, 2007-08 will be way better than the 129 million boxes Florida farmers eked out last season. "We're excited to see the estimate of 168 million boxes this season," said Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president of Florida Citrus Mutual, a grower's association. Raymond Royce, executive director of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, thinks the agriculture department's prediction of 30 percent larger than last year is neither too positive or too negative. "It's right about where I believe, and many of our growers probably thought we would be," Royce said. ...more

October 13, 2007