IMG

IMG Citrus Completes Packinghouse Consolidation

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, Packing

Citrus grower, importer and packer IMG Citrus, headquartered in Vero Beach, announced that its new flagship facility, Sweet Sixty, is fully operational. In 2022, IMG acquired the newly built 185,000-square-foot cold storage and packing facility formerly owned by J&J Fresh Produce. Sweet Sixty was always intended to be more than just additional square footage. It was part of a long-term …

IMG

IMG Citrus Moving Forward With More CUPS

Daniel CooperCUPS

A Nov. 22 Lake County farm tour, hosted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, included a visit to the 13-acre citrus under protective screen (CUPS) site owned by IMG Citrus. Located in Groveland, the facility consists of Ruby Red grapefruit on Swingle rootstock planted in May 2022. Clint Updike, IMG citrus production manager, told farm …

cups

IMG Citrus Acquires Facility and Farmland

Josh McGillIndustry News Release

IMG Citrus, based in Vero Beach, Florida, has acquired J&J Fresh Produce assets. These assets, also located in Vero Beach, include a new 185,000-square-foot cold storage and packaging facility and 1,000 acres of farmland in the Delta Farms Water Control District. “This is an exciting acquisition and a key component of our growth strategy,” said Melanie Ressler, co-chief executive officer …

IMG Citrus Launches YELLOS Grapefruit

Ernie NeffGrapefruit

IMG Citrus announced the launch of the YELLOS Florida grapefruit brand and specialty product. “Although considered a new product on the U.S. market, the YELLOS grapefruit variety is in fact Florida’s original, heirloom grapefruit and the white-fleshed counterpart of the well-known Florida Ruby Red grapefruit,” the company stated. According to a press release, YELLOS are harvested from mature groves more …

IMG Citrus Buys 2,500-Acre Grove

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

IMG Citrus, a citrus grower, packer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, recently bought a 2,500-acre grove in Charlotte County. The grove increases the company’s control of citrus land management in Florida by 27%; it now has 11,387 acres. The property was acquired from the Packers of Indian River. The grove was originally planted in the 1990s and known as …

IMG Citrus Celebrates 40 Years in Business

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically integrated citrus grower, packer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, is celebrating 40 years in business. The business began in 1979 when Michel Sallin, IMG Citrus president, traveled to Florida seeking investment opportunities in agriculture. Sallin and his wife Veronique’s first investment, 72 acres of Hamlin orange groves in Manatee County, would become the beginning …

Sales Leadership Changes at IMG Citrus

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically-integrated citrus grower, packer, importer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, announced the upcoming retirement of Vice President, Veronique Sallin, after 40 years with the company. Sallin’s retirement will officially begin at the end of the 2019-2020 Florida citrus season. The company further announces the promotion of Sydney Allison to the role of director of sales. …

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IMG Citrus Invests in Packinghouse

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, Technology

IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically integrated citrus grower, packer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, has invested $1.5 million into its packinghouse processing line. The company added a state-of-the-art electronic fruit grader, the Global Scan 7, manufactured in France. The new sorter has the ability to precisely capture 120 images per fruit and up to 120 fruit per second in …

haffield

Haffield Reprises Role at IMG Citrus

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically-integrated citrus grower, packer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, renamed Todd Haffield as director of packinghouse operations. He previously held this role with the company from 2010 to 2017. Haffield has been with IMG Citrus since 1999 in various logistics and sales roles in addition to his director position. He contributed to many operational improvements, …

IMG Citrus Adds 4,000-Acre Grove to Portfolio

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

The future of Florida citrus is bright. IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically-integrated citrus grower, packer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, announced the acquisition of one of the largest grapefruit groves in St. Lucie County. The 4,000-acre grove increases IMG’s control of citrus land management in Florida by over 75 percent, securing the company’s position as an established citrus leader …

citrus podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, April 2026

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Events

In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park. The event is the subject of discussion in the April All In For Citrus podcast episode. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), says the Institute is among the big three citrus …

expanded

California Citrus Greening Quarantine Expanded

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the area quarantined for citrus greening in California. APHIS established a new quarantined area in the Ramona area of San Diego County of 93 square miles. The agency also expanded the quarantined area in …

growth

Growth Expected for South African Citrus Exports

Daniel CooperExport, International

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) on April 1 released its citrus export estimates for 2026, which point to continued growth. The report includes estimates of all varieties, excluding late mandarins (which make up the bulk of the mandarin crop). Taking the historic trajectory of late mandarins into account, total citrus exports are expected to increase by approximately …

edible

Edible Ink Made From Citrus to Warn of Food Deterioration

Daniel CooperInternational, Research

A Spanish project is working on the extraction and recovery of orange and mandarin pectin to develop edible inks capable of being printed directly on food. The project also includes the development of a sensor that marks the deterioration of food. Pectin is a soluble natural fiber with gelling properties. The research team focuses on formulating and obtaining inks with …

Florida

Florida Citrus Show: A Day of Education and Enjoyment

Daniel CooperEvents, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show marked another successful event in March in Fort Pierce. The show provided attendees with a fun, informative day to learn about citrus and specialty crops while engaging with exhibitors during the tailgate-style trade show. CRAFT UPDATE Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs have been very popular with growers and have incentivized new citrus plantings across …

enemies

Natural Enemies for Integrated Citrus Pest Management

Daniel CooperPests, Tip of the Week

By Jawwad A. Qureshi Natural enemies are the beneficial organisms that control insect and mite pests. Citrus trees produce most of their young shoots (flush) for the year in spring and will continue to produce more in summer and fall. Arthropod activity has already started in citrus groves. For example, overwintering Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) adults have started reproducing. Other …

education

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: Education and Connection

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

Citrus and specialty crop growers will have a great opportunity this summer to gather, learn and connect at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event is set for Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers. The annual Expo brings together citrus and specialty crop producers for two days focused on practical education and valuable industry …

citrus

Eat Citrus; Be Happy

Daniel CooperInternational, Research

Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have found that consuming a diet rich in flavonoids such as berries, apples and citrus may help people feel happier and more optimistic over time. The research, co-led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, is one of the first large-scale studies to examine the role of flavonoids in psychological wellbeing. Flavonoids are …

Brixy

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Thought About Brixy?

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Varieties

By Peter Chaires Nurseries and growers are continuously searching for suitable substitutes for Hamlin sweet orange to supply the early/mid-season orange juice market. Besides traditional sweet oranges, many new hybrids are in various stages of development. Some of these are likely to rise to the level of commercial viability in the orange-like category. Growers wanting to trial an orange-like hybrid …

Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual Reports on Washington Visit

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Mutual

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), reported on a recent trip that he, FCM President Kevin Koppleman and other FCM staff members made to Washington, D.C. Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation Executive Director Steven Hall accompanied the group. During their visit, the National Citrus Council convened to discuss challenges facing citrus. …