Florida Buys 5,734 Acres From Alico

Ernie NeffLand

The state of Florida recently purchased approximately 5,734 acres of Alico Ranch for $14.4 million from Alico, Inc. The purchase was made under the Florida Forever program, pursuant to an option agreement between the state and the company earlier this fiscal year. “This is now the third sales transaction we have completed with the state of Florida within the last …

Alico: Increased Citrus Prices Expected to Continue

Tacy Calliesfinancial, Industry News Release

Alico, Inc., one of Florida’s largest citrus producers, announced financial results for the fiscal quarter ending Dec. 31. Some highlights regarding the company’s citrus operation follow. For the quarter, Alico Citrus harvested approximately 0.8 million boxes of fruit, a decrease of 14.6 percent from the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease was principally related to there being …

Florida May Buy More Alico Land

Ernie NeffLand

The state of Florida has entered into an option agreement to purchase approximately 5,804 acres of land from Alico, Inc.’s Alico Ranch for approximately $14.6 million under the Florida Forever program. “The 5,804-acre parcel is considered a primary and secondary zone for the federally endangered Florida panther and can contribute to increased protection of Florida’s biodiversity at the species, natural …

Citrus Woes Cut Alico Income

Ernie Neffbusiness

Alico, Inc. reported net income of approximately $23.7 million for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, down from $37.8 million for the prior fiscal year. It attributed the decrease in net income primarily to three factors: A decline in the market price per pound solids for citrus fruit this past 2019-20 harvest season largely attributable to unfavorable industry supply dynamics …

Alico Buys 3,280 Citrus Acres

Ernie NeffAcreage

On Oct. 30, Alico, Inc. purchased approximately 3,280 gross citrus acres in Hendry County for $16.45 million. John Kiernan, company president and chief executive officer, said, “This acquisition of the Alexander Grove from the well-respected Gardinier Florida Citrus, Inc. allows Alico to add additional scale to our existing 45,000 gross acres of citrus properties.” “This Alexander Grove appears to have …

Alico Sells 10,702 Acres to State of Florida

Ernie NeffAcreage

Alico, Inc. on Sept. 11 announced the state of Florida purchased, under the Florida Forever program, approximately 10,702 acres of Alico Ranch for $28.5 million. The transaction was pursuant to an option agreement between the state of Florida and Alico. John Kiernan, Alico president and chief executive officer, said the acreage was on the west side of the ranch. “This is …

orange juice

Alico: Orange Price Down but Outlook Positive

Ernie Nefffinancial, Industry News Release

The average blended price per pound solid (PPS) for juice oranges grown by Alico, Inc. fell from $2.42 in the prior fiscal year to $1.86 in the current fiscal year. That was largely due to the Florida citrus crop being greater than expected in the 2018-19 harvest season, leading to excess inventory levels at Florida citrus juice processors, the company …

Alico Announces New Directors and Agreement with Barron Collier

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

Alico, Inc. in July entered into a long-term agreement to provide citrus grove management services, including harvest and haul responsibilities, to Barron Collier Companies. Alico also announced the additions of Kate English and Adam Putnam to its board of directors. Alico will manage citrus operations for approximately 7,000 acres of Barron Collier groves in Collier and Hendry counties, in exchange …

Florida May Make $28.5M Land Purchase From Alico

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

The state of Florida has approved entering into an agreement that grants it an option to purchase approximately 10,684 acres of Alico Ranch for approximately $28.5 million. The transaction would occur under the Florida Forever program. John Kiernan, Alico’s president and chief executive officer, said the property is on the west side of the Alico Ranch. “If exercised, we expect …

Alico: Citrus Price Improvement Could Be Coming

Ernie NeffEconomics, Industry News Release

Alico, Inc., one of Florida’s largest citrus producers, announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 and the six-month period ending March 31. Some highlights regarding the company’s citrus operation follow. For the six-months ending March 31, Alico Citrus harvested approximately 5.61 million boxes of fruit, an increase of 23.3 percent from the same period a year …

labor contractor

Florida Labor Contractor Cited in Orange Harvester Death

Daniel CooperLabor, Regulation, Weather

A federal workplace safety investigation found a Florida labor contractor could have prevented the fatal illness of a 41-year-old worker who collapsed while harvesting oranges at Alico Farms in December 2023. According to investigators, the incident could have been avoided if the required steps to protect employees from hazards associated with high temperatures were taken.  Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s …

april

Sneak Peek: April 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

See what’s new in citrus in the April issue of Citrus Industry magazine. In this month’s cover story, an established company gets a new name. As the next generation joins the business, learn how DLF International has transitioned to Feek Family Citrus in Fort Pierce, Florida. Trying new things and carefully monitoring costs are a few of the ways this …

panel

Gulf Citrus Grower Panel Discusses Trunk Injection

Daniel CooperEvents, Gulf, HLB Management

The Gulf Citrus Growers Association recently hosted a grower panel at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee to discuss experiences and results of trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) to treat HLB. Participating in the panel were Ron English, Florida’s Natural Growers/Ranch 1; David Wheeler, Wheeler Farms; and …

Keller Is CRAFT Scientific Coordinator

Josh McGillCRAFT

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently hired Carisa Keller to serve as the organization’s scientific coordinator. The Highlands County resident previously worked as director of sustainability for Alico. “As CRAFT continues to grow, it’s imperative that we continue to build a team that is ready and able to support the demands of the program,” said CRAFT Executive …

HLB Tools for Today and Tomorrow

Josh McGillCitrus Expo, HLB Management

By Frank Giles and Tacy Callies The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo hosted two citrus educational sessions during the Aug. 16–17 event held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The sessions included both long-term research aimed at delivering trees resistant to HLB as well as what growers can do today to help mitigate the effects of the disease in …

Gulf Citrus Growers Gain Hurricane Insights

Josh McGillGulf, hurricane, Weather

The Gulf Citrus Growers Association (GCGA) hosted its annual meeting in Fort Myers in early June to tend to association business and elect new board members. The event was well attended, and growers were mostly in good spirits buoyed by observations that HLB therapies might be having positive impacts on trees. Ron Mahan, current GCGA president, captured that sentiment in …

Florida Citrus Mutual Elects Directors

Josh McGillFlorida Citrus Mutual

In voting that ended April 21, Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) grower members elected a board of directors for the 2023–25 seasons.  Of FCM’s 10 districts, only districts 4 and 7 required elections. “All other districts received the correct number of nominations for available seats,” said Matt Joyner, FCM executive vice president/chief executive officer. The directors are: District 1 representing Hernando, …

Trunk Injection Inspires Interest in Planting

Josh McGillEvents, HLB Management

The Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute, presented by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, was held in Avon Park on April 4. The annual educational event drew a good crowd of growers and allied industry. After nearly two decades of fighting HLB, and more recently fallout from hurricanes, those in attendance expressed a renewed sense of optimism …

Mental Health Talk Highlights Peace River Meeting

Josh McGillEvents

Marshal Sewell, representing the Mind Your Melon campaign, addressed mental health in agriculture and facing adversity during Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association’s (PRVCGA) recent annual meeting.  “Mental health was a perfect topic for this past year’s events,” said PRVCGA Executive Director Emma Keller. Florida citrus growers have seen production drop to its lowest level since before World War II …

Keller Is New Leader for Florida Citrus Association

Josh McGillCitrus, Florida

Emma Keller became executive director of the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) Aug. 8. Keller, who is finishing her senior year at Warner University, succeeds Kait Shaw. She is working on a degree in agricultural science with a minor in communications. Keller was born in Charlotte County, Florida. “I grew up on an orange grove in Punta Gorda,” …