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Mixons spotlight Manatee tourism

Bradenton Herald – March 21, 2011

Janet and Dean Mixon are taking part in their first Florida Tourism Day in Tallahassee where they expect to meet with Gov. Rick Scott, several Cabinet officers, and members of the Florida Legislature.

The Mixons, owners of Mixon Fruit Farms, say they want to talk about government red tape, taxes, torte reform, and offshore drilling.

Though they have real concerns about all those issues, Dean Mixon said Monday they aren’t going just to complain.

“We want to get to know them,” Dean Mixon said.

The Mixons are joining about 100 Florida attractions in the trek to Tallahassee, including giants Disney World and Sea World.

“We needed to be there to make sure tourism and citrus are a priority,” Dean Mixon said.

The Mixons also want Tallahassee officials to get to know Manatee County better as well, including he fact that it has tourist attractions ranging from the Anna Maria Island and Long Boat Key beaches, to South Florida Museum, Dakin Dairy, and Hunsader Farms.

Several of those businesses combine tourism and agriculture in unique ways.

“It’s really important to stay top of mind in front of legislators,” said Debbie Meihls, executive manager of the Manatee County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Visits like the one being made by the Mixons help remind state officials of the importance of tourism and the state dollars that promote it, Meihls said.

Not only that, the competition for tourist dollars is intense. Florida attractions compete not only with each other but tourist destinations around the world.

The Mixons recently became members of the Florida Attractions Association.

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