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 Citrus Moving Forward With More CUPS
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 …
IMG Citrus Acquires Facility and Farmland
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
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
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
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
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. …
IMG Citrus Invests in Packinghouse
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 Reprises Role at IMG Citrus
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
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 …
Last Chance to Preregister for the Florida Citrus Show
The Florida Citrus Show is just a week away. Preregistration for the event ends on Sunday, March 8. So, sign up now to skip the onsite registration process. The event is on March 12 at 8:00 a.m. at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural …
Georgia Needs Management Plan for Citrus Greening
Citrus greening disease has yet to find its footing in Georgia’s commercial citrus. But if it does, Georgia’s growers need a plan in place to manage the disease. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA), emphasized that message during last week’s GCA annual meeting in Tifton. “There is a very small amount of the disease in commercial …
Register for the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
Registration is now open for the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, set for Aug. 12–13 at the waterfront Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. The Expo has earned a reputation as a top event for commercial producers. The event brings together citrus and specialty crop growers, allied industry companies, researchers and industry leaders for two days of …
FDACS Announces Disaster Updates for Florida Citrus
As Florida citrus growers deal with the aftermath of freezes, they are at long last able to apply for block grants for damages incurred by 2023 and 2024 hurricanes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) provided details on citrus freeze damage and began accepting applications for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. FREEZE DAMAGE FDACS released …
Flooding Disrupts South African Citrus
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported on disruption of citrus operations in South Africa due to flooding late last month. Heavy, persistent rainfall in South Africa’s Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage. Waterlogged citrus orchards have hindered disease management and increased the risk of citrus black spot (CBS) infestation, threatening market …
Plant Defense To Increase Citrus Performance
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently issued an article, Science‑Based Plant Defense So Your Crops Perform Better. The authors are multi-county citrus Extension agent Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Jonael Bosques-Mendez, a county Extension director. Edited excerpts follow: ROOTS AND WATER Plant roots are strategic. They possess the structure and ability to alter their growth …
South Korean Citrus Production and Trade Forecast
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently forecast South Korean citrus production and trade for 2025–26. Tangerines and mandarins are the country’s dominant citrus varieties. TANGERINES/MANDARINS Korea’s tangerine/mandarin production is projected to increase 5.4% to approximately 570,000 metric tons (MT), thanks to favorable yield offsetting acreage loss.The tangerine/mandarin cultivation area in South Korea is projected to …
Sneak Peek: March 2026 Citrus Industry
Citrus and other specialty crops suffered large losses from the late January/early February freeze that walloped Florida. Get the details in the cover story of the March issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine. The article provides the early estimates of damage by crop according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It also discusses efforts to secure financial …
Citrus State of the Industry Survey, Part 2: Planting Intentions
The 2025–26 State of the Citrus Industry Survey asked growers if they are planting and what their variety and rootstock selections are. It also surveyed growers on their sentiments about the future of citrus in Florida. Following are some highlights from the survey which was conducted in the fall of 2025. (See Part 1 of survey results here). Growers’ preference …
Earn Continuing Education Units at the Florida Citrus Show
The Florida Citrus Show is only two weeks away, scheduled for March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The educational seminars have much to offer for both citrus …





























