Longtime Lakeland Produce Business Lays Off 44 Workers Right Before Christmas

On the Thursday before Christmas, job hunting was the last thing on the minds of Goddard Produce employees.

General Manager Mike Murphy, 43, was fishing in Manatee County, taking only his second day off since joining the company a year and a half ago. 

“It’s Christmas and it’s really quiet, so I decided I was gonna go fishing yesterday,” Murphy said. “Then I got a phone call. ‘Hey, where are you? … I really need you back here. We have some things to talk about.’” 

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