The Fruit of Enthusiasm 

One of the pleasures of the fall season is a honeycrisp apple, at least late September through early October. I am a devoted, almost obsessive, fan of this amazing apple. They offer the perfect blend of sweet and tangy - heavier on the sweet - and are extremely juicy. The flavors explode in your mouth and you will not be able to stop eating until the entire apple is gone. Don't kid yourself, you will think about grabbing a second one too. I've always been a fan of apples and growing up I enjoyed one daily, before honeycrisp were available. Back then, all apples had the flavor and amazing taste of a honeycrisp, but nowadays a truly great apple is a rare breed - at least at the local super market.

Honeycrisp are also one of the most expensive apples on the market. Most are a dollar and change per pound, while honeycrisp are a whopping $3.99 per pound (on sale this week for $2.98). They are also the most popular variety and in the highest demand.

I'm willing to spend $4.00 on a single apple because I trust the brand. I know to expect a truly delicious apple and I don't mind paying more for that guarantee. I'm not alone. After almost two decades of slow, steady growth, interest in honeycrisps has skyrocketed in the past few years as consumers began to discover the apple in droves. However, production can't just turn on the dime. From the time an apple tree is planted, it takes at least five to six years for it to produce fruit in commercial quantities. As demand has peaked in recent years, supply has lagged behind, sending prices up.  

Why all this interest in an apple you ask? The apple breeders and producers have not spent a dime on marketing. The interest is from word of mouth and enthusiasm of their fans. The people who have discovered this apple are so excited about it, they share it on Twitter, other social media, and talk it up to friends and family. They are enthusiastic about these apples and don't mind sharing this enthusiasm with others.    

"Study the unusually successful people you know, and you will find them imbued with enthusiasm for their work which is contagious. Not only are they themselves excited about what they are doing, but they also get you excited."

-  Paul W. Ivey

Enthusiastic and positive people motivate others. Enthusiasm for our wonderful products will motivate others to talk about them, to utilize them, to become almost obsessive about them. The new trend is to purchase the organic, socially acceptable, sustainable and efficient product. What do you know? That's exactly what our industry offers! Concrete is sustainable (economically, socially, environmentally); energy efficient; mold resistant; fireproof; rot proof; termite proof; hurricane resistant; less maintenance; lasts longer; cleaner; requires less light; more durable; affordable; quiet; visually appealing; readily available; smaller environmental footprint; uses local materials; uses recycled materials; can be made into any shape or color.  

Michele Stropoli

FICAP Executive Director

Citizens Property Insurance to End Assessment in 2015

NAR economist predicts booming sales 

A perfect storm is forming in the trucking industry 

Soaring tourism will mean thousands of jobs   

Florida's Highway Conditions and Cost-Effectiveness 

Florida's state debt now stands at $24.4 billion, which is its lowest level, since 2007. Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature have paid down debt, cut taxes and eliminated burdensome regulation on Florida businesses. Florida collected $10.6 billion in taxes during the second quarter of 2014. Almost $5.7 billion came from sales tax collections.

Don't run that red -- Florida jurisdictions collected a grand total of $8,984,326 from red light camera fines in July and August 2014.  

-  Lobbying Tools      

"Please share your thoughts on big companies who send you a prepared list of their officers, suppliers and bank info instead of completing and signing our credit application. Basically, we are under the governance of their purchase order as far as terms and conditions go, correct?"

You would be governed by the Purchase order or your invoice (with the consistent terms between the two the most enforceable). Obviously you want to get a credit app signed if possible.   

- Answer provided by Rocco Cafaro, Construction Attorney with Hill Ward Henderson  

Please feel free to share the following information with every supplier, subcontractor and homebuilder you know. It is good that we know about this early enough to become engaged in this issue. The bad thing is the negative impact we could all potentially face.   

State Representative Richard Corcoran, a Republican from HD# 37 from Pasco County, is slated to become Florida's Speaker of the House in 2017-2018, and will be a part of Incoming Speaker of the House, Representative Steve Crisafulli's Leadership Team for the next two years. Rep. Corcoran will be in charge of fundraising for all Republican House members during the 2016 election cycle, which currently represents approximately seventy (70%) of Florida House member seats. He is in an extremely powerful position for the next four years.