Extreme Commanders

Hit by storms and disease, Florida’s citrus growers try to survive until bug-free trees arrive

Population growth, hurricanes and a vicious citrus greening disease have left the Florida orange industry reeling. Consumers are drinking less orange juice, citrus growers are folding up their operations in the state and the major juice company Tropicana is struggling to stay afloat. With huge numbers of people moving into Florida’s orange growing areas, developers are increasingly building homes on what were once orange groves.

Many growers are now making the difficult decision to sell orange groves that have been in their families for generations to developers building homes to house the growing population.

When Hurricane Irma blasted through the state’s orange belt in 2017, Florida’s signature crop already had been on a downward spiral for two decades because of the greening disease. Next came a major freeze and two more hurricanes in 2022, followed by two hurricanes last year. A tree that loses branches and foliage in a hurricane can take three years to recover, Murphy said.

Those catastrophes contributed to a 90% decline in orange production over the past two decades. Citrus groves in Florida, which covered more than 832,00 acres (336,698 hectares) at the turn of the century, populated scarcely 275,000 acres (111,288 hectares) last year, and California has eclipsed Florida as the nation’s leading citrus producer.

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I guess that's one way to beat the cost of eggs:

'The most Florida': Marco Island man turns iguana eggs into breakfast

If you have an iguana problem on Marco Island, there's only one person to call. John Johnson, the owner and founder of Down Goes Iguana, has been removing the invasive pests for years — responding to calls and killing the lizards on site.

However, when you remove hundreds of pests in a year, you have a lot of lizards to deal with.

The green iguana, native to Central and South America, has become an invasive species in South Florida. These reptiles are notorious for burrowing into seawalls, damaging landscaping, and even compromising pool structures, all of which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

"I have the tools to help, and after I'm done, I might as well do something different," Johnson said.

"It doesn't get more Florida than this," he said.



Click on the link for the full article
Where others see a nuisance, Johnson sees a breakfast opportunity. Armed with a sharp knife and a sense of adventure, he harvests iguana eggs with the enthusiasm of a man who's discovered a hidden culinary treasure.

Florida spring break brawl ends with teen biting off man's ear: police

A man is recovering after having his ear ripped off during an altercation that turned violent on a Florida beach during spring break.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office told Fox News Digital that 18-year-old Jack Turner was arrested and faces felony battery charges following the brawl that took place at Fort Myers Beach on St. Patrick's Day.

Officials said on Monday, deputies patrolling the area were flagged down in reference to a fight around 5 p.m.

The victim, who was not identified, told deputies that he was involved in a physical altercation and a portion of his left ear had been bitten off.

Click on the link for the full article

China wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:22 pm

I guess that's one way to beat the cost of eggs:

'The most Florida': Marco Island man turns iguana eggs into breakfast

If you have an iguana problem on Marco Island, there's only one person to call. John Johnson, the owner and founder of Down Goes Iguana, has been removing the invasive pests for years — responding to calls and killing the lizards on site.

However, when you remove hundreds of pests in a year, you have a lot of lizards to deal with.

The green iguana, native to Central and South America, has become an invasive species in South Florida. These reptiles are notorious for burrowing into seawalls, damaging landscaping, and even compromising pool structures, all of which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

"I have the tools to help, and after I'm done, I might as well do something different," Johnson said.

"It doesn't get more Florida than this," he said.



Click on the link for the full article
Where others see a nuisance, Johnson sees a breakfast opportunity. Armed with a sharp knife and a sense of adventure, he harvests iguana eggs with the enthusiasm of a man who's discovered a hidden culinary treasure.

Florida can't drown fast enough.

Simmsy wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 7:58 pm

China wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:22 pm

I guess that's one way to beat the cost of eggs:

'The most Florida': Marco Island man turns iguana eggs into breakfast

If you have an iguana problem on Marco Island, there's only one person to call. John Johnson, the owner and founder of Down Goes Iguana, has been removing the invasive pests for years — responding to calls and killing the lizards on site.

However, when you remove hundreds of pests in a year, you have a lot of lizards to deal with.

The green iguana, native to Central and South America, has become an invasive species in South Florida. These reptiles are notorious for burrowing into seawalls, damaging landscaping, and even compromising pool structures, all of which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

"I have the tools to help, and after I'm done, I might as well do something different," Johnson said.

"It doesn't get more Florida than this," he said.



Click on the link for the full article
Where others see a nuisance, Johnson sees a breakfast opportunity. Armed with a sharp knife and a sense of adventure, he harvests iguana eggs with the enthusiasm of a man who's discovered a hidden culinary treasure.

Florida can't drown fast enough.

Aww, c’mon, it’s America’s reality comedy show!

Trio of teens attack Easter bunny at Naples mall

Three teenagers have been arrested after battering a woman while she was dressed up as the Easter bunny at a Naples mall.

On Sunday, officers from the Naples Police Department responded to a report of a
disturbance at the Coastland Mall in Naples.

According to the victim, a 24-year-old woman, she was returning to the break room while
wearing the Easter Bunny costume when three juveniles approached her. Two were aged 13, and one was 14 years old.

Police said the teenagers began to physically batter the victim by pushing, shoving and pulling at her.



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Cops Bust Drunk Man Wearing Pink Thong, Fake Breasts, Pink Wig

Sir, this is an Applebee’s.

A drunk man wearing a pink wig, fake breasts, and a pink thong was arrested Friday evening for causing a disturbance outside the chain restaurant, where concerned diners had their eatin’ good in the neighborhood disrupted.

Cops say Daniel Ciriello, 49, was so intoxicated that he was “unable to provide for his own safety and well being” as he was “stumbling around” the Applebee’s parking lot in Clearwater, Florida.



The “extremely disoriented” Ciriello tried to “enter a vehicle that did not belong to him,” cops reported. When questioned by deputies, Ciriello was unable to answer basic questions “such as where he was, where he came from, and what state he was in.”

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‘Cocaine became so irate:’ Man attacked Brevard County Subway employees, deputies say

A 45-year-old man was arrested after he pushed workers at a Brevard County Subway restaurant before pulling out a knife, according to a news release.

Deputies said that on April 5, a man later identified as Edward Cocaine, went into the restaurant located at 390 St. Charles Ave. in Merritt Island with another man. Cocaine got into an argument with employees over what he believed were their bad attitudes.

Click on the link for the full article

China wrote: Sun Apr 13, 2025 9:35 pm

‘Cocaine became so irate:’ Man attacked Brevard County Subway employees, deputies say

A 45-year-old man was arrested after he pushed workers at a Brevard County Subway restaurant before pulling out a knife, according to a news release.

Deputies said that on April 5, a man later identified as Edward Cocaine, went into the restaurant located at 390 St. Charles Ave. in Merritt Island with another man. Cocaine got into an argument with employees over what he believed were their bad attitudes.

Click on the link for the full article

Dude's name is Cocaine? LOL, he was destined to fail.