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 …
Funding Expanded for California Citrus Breeding
The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations has included additional funds in the fiscal year 2027 Agriculture Appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) citrus breeding program in Parlier, California. It is allocating an additional $500,000 in federal funding, on top of the $1.5 million previously granted, to expand the program into California. If approved, the program …
South Africa Maintains Middle East Citrus Supply
South Africa’s citrus season is rapidly gaining momentum, with fruit now beginning to flow steadily to markets in the Middle East. The current pressures on exporters of citrus are confined to marginally longer transit times and higher shipping costs, but there is no material diversion of South African citrus volumes to alternative markets away from the Middle East. “Early consignments …
Southern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast Issued
The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) released production and export forecasts for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere citrus season. The forecasts are based on information from the WCO network in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Africa and Uruguay. ALL CITRUS Total Southern Hemisphere citrus production is expected to decrease 5.86% from the previous year to 26.4 million tons. Exports, however, …
Hancock To Be Honored With the 2026 Citrus Achievement Award
AgNet Media, publisher of Specialty Crop Grower magazine, is pleased to announce that Ned Hancock has been selected as the 2026 Citrus Achievement Award winner. Hancock and his family have been involved in the Florida citrus industry for generations. Hancock has dedicated countless hours serving in leadership roles for numerous citrus associations, including Florida Citrus Mutual’s board of directors. He …
Citrus Projects Funded by Plant Protection Act
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $90 million under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act to support 441 projects that will: Of the 441 projects, 421 fall under the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and 20 support the National Clean Plant Network. USDA will reserve approximately $17.2 million to support rapid …
Grower’s Business Benefits From Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Attendance
Since he began growing citrus six years ago, Daryl Zelek has attended the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo every year. He’ll be back again this year, and this time he’s bringing his wife so she can attend the vegetable seminars. The couple has already booked their stay at the Luminary Hotel and are looking forward to coming to the Caloosa …
South Africa Set To Boost Citrus Exports to China
South Africa’s Department of Agriculture and the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) announced the amendment of the plant health protocol governing the export of South African citrus to China. The amended protocol introduces additional phytosanitary pest risk mitigation treatment options, reflecting a science-based and risk-managed approach to plant health compliance. The outcome, based on scientific outputs from Citrus …
Sneak Peak: May 2026 Citrus Industry
The Citrus Industry section in the May issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine highlights evolving strategies designed to sustain long-term citrus productivity. A key theme is industry collaboration and knowledge-sharing, underscored by the upcoming Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Fort Myers, previewed in this issue. The event’s new venue and integrated format aim to foster deeper engagement between growers, …
California Citrus: Grower and Consumer Perspective
Jesse Silva, vice president of sales at California’s Kings River Packing, recently discussed the spring and summer citrus season from a grower and consumer and perspective on the AgNet West Radio Network. His observations follow. GROWING CONDITIONS AND COSTS This year’s warmer growing conditions have created both challenges and opportunities. Larger fruit sizes and softer textures require careful handling, but …
Don’t Miss the May 1 Deadline for Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Hotel Savings
Time is running out to take advantage of hotel savings for the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The early-bird rate at the host hotel expires May 1, so attendees will want to book soon to lock in the lower price. The Expo will take place Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. Each year, the …





























