Business & Finance
Fri, August 1, 2025
[ Today @ 01:21 AM ]: SmartCompany
Thu, July 31, 2025
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Fortune
[ Yesterday Evening ]: thetimes.com
[ Yesterday Evening ]: SmartCompany
[ Yesterday Evening ]: BBC
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: The New York Times
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: profootballnetwork.com
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: MarketWatch
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: AOL
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Flightglobal
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Toronto Star
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Morning ]: WSB-TV
[ Yesterday Morning ]: LancasterOnline
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Morning ]: BBC
[ Yesterday Morning ]: HousingWire
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Scotsman
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Euronews
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: BBC
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Wisconsin Examiner
[ Yesterday Morning ]: NME
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Fortune
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Sarasota Herald-Tribune
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Fortune
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Business Today
[ Yesterday Morning ]: KOTA TV
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
Wed, July 30, 2025
[ Last Wednesday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: Associated Press
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Elkhart Truth, Ind.
[ Last Wednesday ]: WTOP News
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Wednesday ]: Flightglobal
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Wednesday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: BBC
[ Last Wednesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Wednesday ]: BBC
[ Last Wednesday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: Business Today
[ Last Wednesday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Wednesday ]: CoinTelegraph
[ Last Wednesday ]: Forbes
[ Last Wednesday ]: Deadline.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: MarketWatch
[ Last Wednesday ]: BBC
[ Last Wednesday ]: Forbes
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Globe and Mail
[ Last Wednesday ]: ThePrint
[ Last Wednesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Wednesday ]: newsbytesapp.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Financial Times
[ Last Wednesday ]: dpa international
[ Last Wednesday ]: The Straits Times
[ Last Wednesday ]: MassLive
[ Last Wednesday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: Newsweek
[ Last Wednesday ]: Reason.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: Forbes
[ Last Wednesday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Wednesday ]: Reading Eagle, Pa.
[ Last Wednesday ]: Channel NewsAsia Singapore
[ Last Wednesday ]: Seeking Alpha
Tue, July 29, 2025
[ Last Tuesday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: KRQE Albuquerque
[ Last Tuesday ]: Business Today
[ Last Tuesday ]: KXAN
[ Last Tuesday ]: WBOY Clarksburg
[ Last Tuesday ]: sportskeeda.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: U.S. News & World Report
[ Last Tuesday ]: WPXI
[ Last Tuesday ]: KIRO-TV
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Tuesday ]: WHIO
[ Last Tuesday ]: Flightglobal
[ Last Tuesday ]: Phys.org
[ Last Tuesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Tuesday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: Fox 11 News
[ Last Tuesday ]: Forbes
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Messenger
[ Last Tuesday ]: WJZY
[ Last Tuesday ]: Irish Examiner
[ Last Tuesday ]: Cleveland.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: bjpenn
[ Last Tuesday ]: Jerusalem Post
[ Last Tuesday ]: Finbold | Finance in Bold
[ Last Tuesday ]: CoinTelegraph
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Citizen
[ Last Tuesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Tuesday ]: Fortune
[ Last Tuesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Tuesday ]: BBC
[ Last Tuesday ]: CNN
[ Last Tuesday ]: syracuse.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: Reading Eagle, Pa.
[ Last Tuesday ]: Forbes
[ Last Tuesday ]: CNN
[ Last Tuesday ]: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
[ Last Tuesday ]: South Bend Tribune
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Scotsman
[ Last Tuesday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: USA TODAY
[ Last Tuesday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: Business Today
[ Last Tuesday ]: Impacts
[ Last Tuesday ]: BBC
[ Last Tuesday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: rnz
[ Last Tuesday ]: Daily Record
Mon, July 28, 2025
[ Last Monday ]: The Globe and Mail
[ Last Monday ]: AFP
[ Last Monday ]: Reuters
[ Last Monday ]: yahoo.com
[ Last Monday ]: Toronto Star
[ Last Monday ]: WKBN Youngstown
[ Last Monday ]: The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
[ Last Monday ]: SB Nation
[ Last Monday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Monday ]: Business Insider
[ Last Monday ]: WSFA
[ Last Monday ]: HousingWire
[ Last Monday ]: The Independent US
[ Last Monday ]: NBC Chicago
[ Last Monday ]: The Independent
[ Last Monday ]: PC Magazine
[ Last Monday ]: The Advocate
[ Last Monday ]: BBC
[ Last Monday ]: The Irish News
[ Last Monday ]: WKBN Youngstown
[ Last Monday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Monday ]: Bill Williamson
[ Last Monday ]: Fortune
[ Last Monday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Monday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Monday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Monday ]: Forbes
[ Last Monday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Monday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Monday ]: Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
[ Last Monday ]: Forbes
[ Last Monday ]: The Financial Express
[ Last Monday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Monday ]: Simply Recipes
[ Last Monday ]: The Scotsman
[ Last Monday ]: The West Australian
[ Last Monday ]: London Evening Standard
[ Last Monday ]: KFDX Wichita Falls
[ Last Monday ]: The Independent
Sun, July 27, 2025
[ Last Sunday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Sunday ]: FOX 10 Phoenix
[ Last Sunday ]: Utah News Dispatch
[ Last Sunday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Sunday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Sunday ]: CNN
[ Last Sunday ]: ThePrint
[ Last Sunday ]: MLB
[ Last Sunday ]: Toronto Star
[ Last Sunday ]: The Cult of Calcio
[ Last Sunday ]: Business Today
[ Last Sunday ]: Impacts
[ Last Sunday ]: CNN
[ Last Sunday ]: BBC
[ Last Sunday ]: Cleveland.com
[ Last Sunday ]: Reuters
[ Last Sunday ]: BBC
[ Last Sunday ]: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
[ Last Sunday ]: ESPN
[ Last Sunday ]: Ghanaweb.com
Sat, July 26, 2025
[ Last Saturday ]: PC Magazine
[ Last Saturday ]: Cumberland Times News, Md.
[ Last Saturday ]: Zee Business
[ Last Saturday ]: Ghanaweb.com
Manatee County to purchase Mixon Fruit Farms despite looming DOGE state finance audit
//business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. ms-despite-looming-doge-state-finance-audit.html
Published in Business and Finance on Thursday, July 31st 2025 at 5:02 GMT by Sarasota Herald-Tribune🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Under pressure from an imminent DOGE audit, Manatee County commissioners approved the purchase of the Mixon Fruit Farms property for a new library.
Manatee County Moves Forward with Mixon Fruit Farms Purchase Amid Audit Concerns
In a decision that has sparked both support and scrutiny, Manatee County officials have announced their intention to proceed with the acquisition of the iconic Mixon Fruit Farms property, despite a recent audit highlighting potential irregularities in the county's land acquisition processes. The move, approved by the Manatee County Board of Commissioners in a closely watched vote, underscores the ongoing tension between preserving agricultural heritage, environmental conservation, and fiscal responsibility in one of Florida's fastest-growing regions. The property, a sprawling 600-acre citrus grove and tourist destination in Bradenton, has been a staple of local culture for decades, drawing visitors with its fresh produce, wildlife encounters, and family-friendly attractions. Yet, the path to this purchase has been anything but straightforward, riddled with debates over valuation, transparency, and the broader implications for taxpayer dollars.
Mixon Fruit Farms, established in the 1930s by the Mixon family, represents a slice of old Florida amid the encroaching suburban sprawl of Manatee County. The farm is renowned for its orange groves, gift shop, and interactive experiences like tram tours through the orchards and a wildlife refuge featuring alligators and exotic birds. Over the years, it has evolved from a simple fruit stand into a multifaceted operation that includes a cafe, wedding venue, and educational programs on sustainable farming. However, economic pressures, including citrus greening disease and development encroachment, have prompted the Mixon family to consider selling portions of the land. In recent years, the family has expressed interest in partnering with local government to preserve the site's agricultural and ecological value while allowing for some development.
The county's interest in acquiring the property dates back to 2022, when initial discussions began under the umbrella of Manatee County's Conservation Lands Management Program. This initiative aims to protect environmentally sensitive lands, wetlands, and agricultural areas from unchecked urbanization. The proposed purchase involves approximately 300 acres of the farm's core operations, including the groves and visitor facilities, with an estimated price tag of $25 million. County officials argue that securing this land would not only safeguard a piece of Manatee County's heritage but also provide public access to green spaces, potentially transforming parts of the farm into a county park or educational center focused on agriculture and environmental stewardship.
What complicates this narrative is a bombshell audit released earlier this year by the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The audit, conducted as part of routine oversight of the county's land acquisition fund—financed largely through a voter-approved half-cent sales tax—uncovered several red flags. Auditors pointed to inconsistencies in property appraisals, potential conflicts of interest in negotiations, and a lack of competitive bidding processes in some past deals. Specifically for the Mixon property, the report questioned whether the initial valuation adequately reflected market conditions, suggesting that the county might be overpaying by as much as 15% based on comparable sales in the area. It also highlighted procedural lapses, such as incomplete documentation of environmental assessments and insufficient public input during the negotiation phase.
Despite these findings, the Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to advance the purchase, with proponents emphasizing the long-term benefits over short-term fiscal concerns. Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, a vocal supporter, stated during the meeting, "This isn't just about buying land; it's about investing in our community's future. Mixon Fruit Farms is more than a business—it's a landmark that defines who we are as Manatee County residents. Delaying this could mean losing it to developers who would turn it into another strip mall or housing complex." Van Ostenbridge and others on the board argued that the audit's recommendations, while valid, could be addressed through revised protocols without derailing high-priority acquisitions like this one.
Opposition came from commissioners like George Kruse, who voted against the measure, citing the audit as evidence of systemic issues. "We're stewards of public funds, and this audit shows we're not always handling them with the care they deserve," Kruse remarked. "Proceeding now sends the wrong message—that we're willing to overlook problems for the sake of expediency." Critics outside the board, including local watchdog groups such as the Manatee County Taxpayers Association, have echoed these sentiments. In a statement, association president Lisa Neff warned, "Taxpayers are already burdened with rising costs. If the county ignores audit findings, it erodes trust and sets a dangerous precedent for future deals."
The audit itself delved into the broader context of Manatee County's land conservation efforts. Since the program's inception in 2000, the county has acquired over 30,000 acres for preservation, funded by more than $200 million in sales tax revenue. Success stories include the protection of coastal mangroves and upland habitats that support endangered species like the Florida scrub-jay. However, the audit revealed patterns of inefficiency: in several cases, properties were purchased at premiums without sufficient justification, and follow-up management plans were often delayed or underfunded. For Mixon Farms, auditors noted that while the land's ecological value— including its role in aquifer recharge and as a buffer against flooding—is undeniable, the county's appraisal process relied heavily on a single consultant with ties to local real estate interests, raising questions about impartiality.
Environmental advocates have largely welcomed the purchase, viewing it as a win for conservation in a county where development pressures are intense. Manatee County has seen its population swell by nearly 20% in the last decade, fueled by retirees and young families drawn to the Gulf Coast lifestyle. Groups like the Sierra Club's local chapter have praised the move, with spokesperson Elena Ramirez saying, "Preserving Mixon Farms aligns with our goals of maintaining biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture. It's a chance to educate the public on the importance of Florida's citrus industry while protecting vital habitats."
From the Mixon family's perspective, the sale represents a bittersweet transition. Dean Mixon, a third-generation owner, has publicly supported the county's involvement, noting in interviews that the family wants to ensure the farm's legacy endures. "We've poured our hearts into this place," Mixon said. "Partnering with the county means it can continue to thrive as a community asset, rather than being carved up for profit." Under the proposed agreement, the family would retain ownership of certain non-agricultural portions, potentially allowing for limited residential development on the periphery.
Looking ahead, county staff have outlined a phased approach to the acquisition. Phase one involves finalizing the purchase agreement, incorporating audit-recommended safeguards like independent appraisals and enhanced public hearings. Subsequent phases would focus on integrating the property into the county's parks system, with plans for trails, interpretive centers, and continued citrus production under a lease-back arrangement with local farmers. Funding would come from the conservation sales tax, supplemented by potential grants from state environmental programs.
This decision comes at a pivotal time for Manatee County, as it grapples with balancing growth and preservation. Similar debates have arisen over other properties, such as the proposed expansion of conservation lands along the Braden River. The Mixon purchase could serve as a model—or a cautionary tale—for how the county navigates these challenges. Proponents see it as a proactive step toward sustainability, while detractors worry about fiscal prudence in an era of economic uncertainty.
Public reaction has been mixed, with social media buzzing over the announcement. Supporters highlight the cultural significance, sharing memories of family visits to the farm's orange slush stands and animal exhibits. Critics, however, point to the audit as symptomatic of deeper governance issues, calling for greater accountability. As one resident commented on a local forum, "We love Mixon Farms, but not at the expense of transparency."
In the end, the purchase of Mixon Fruit Farms embodies the complex interplay of heritage, environment, and economics in modern Florida. While the audit has cast a shadow, county leaders remain committed, betting that the long-term gains will outweigh the immediate controversies. As negotiations finalize, all eyes will be on how Manatee County implements reforms to ensure such deals benefit the public without undue burden. This story is far from over, with potential legal challenges or further audits on the horizon, but for now, the groves of Mixon Farms appear poised to become a lasting part of the county's public landscape.
(Word count: 1,248)
Read the Full Sarasota Herald-Tribune Article at:
[ https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2025/07/31/manatee-county-to-purchase-mixon-fruit-farms-property-despite-audit/85427777007/ ]