wftv.com: MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A plan to build a hydroponic tomato farm at Ocala’s airport never got off the ground. On Tuesday night the City Council voted to kill the project after spending $3.4 million on it.
Officials insist the tax money they spent would have been spent anyway to improve the city’s business park. So even though tomatoes are out, they hope to bring something else in.
The 135 acres supposed to be covered with tomatoes will remain covered with weeds.
“Well, the city has a lot of coals in the fire right now. Losing these jobs, of course, is a disappointment,” said Ocala City Manager Matthew Brower.
