The City of Clermont, in partnership with local business Cherrylake, will proudly unveil a captivating new mural as part of the Downtown Artwalk. Created by artist Justin Alsedek, the mural was commissioned by Cherrylake to reflect its deep commitment to agriculture, sustainable landscaping, and the local community.
Cherrylake is a family-owned business and a cornerstone of the local economy, recognized as one of the largest private employers in the county and leading agribusiness in Florida. The mural embodies the company’s core values—life, beauty, community, vision, and sustainability—while honoring the area’s rich agricultural history and the ongoing responsibility to protect the natural resources that have sustained the community for generations.
Now under second-generation family leadership, Cherrylake’s 1,200 acres of tree-lined rolling hills in Groveland trace their origins back to 1979, when Michel and Veronique Sallin purchased the land as a citrus grove. Like many farmers in the area, the Sallin family faced devastating setbacks when the freezes of 1983 and 1985 destroyed their groves. Undeterred, they diversified by planting an ornamental nursery in Groveland while continuing citrus operations further south in Indian River County. Today, Cherrylake is the third-largest ornamental plant nursery in North America and one of the fastest-growing landscape construction companies in the United States. Its sister company, IMG Citrus, is the largest grower of fresh Florida grapefruit, with its citrus available in supermarkets throughout the Southeast under the Happy Food brand.
The mural, titled “Plan(t) for the Future,” is composed of two distinct yet connected scenes that tell a story of growth, renewal, and hope while showcasing the unique ecosystem surrounding the City of Clermont.
The left panel features a large hand emerging from a vibrant sky, gently placing a seed into the earth. This scene symbolizes the beginning of life, the beauty of nature’s cycle, and the vision of a future rooted in sustainable practices. It also pays homage to the area’s agricultural roots, emphasizing the importance of planting and nurturing both crops and community.
The second panel presents a lush and thriving natural environment, centered around a majestic bald cypress tree. The scene is rich with native Florida plants and wildlife, including sandhill cranes, a red-shouldered hawk, bumblebees, and the state butterfly, the zebra longwing. The words “FOR THE FUTURE” are inscribed at the bottom, emphasizing the importance of actions taken today to ensure a flourishing and sustainable environment for tomorrow. This scene reflects the community’s ongoing commitment to protecting the natural resources that have been vital to its agricultural heritage and ecological health.
“Every member of this community has a role to play in stewarding the beauty of our lakes and land,” said Chloe Gentry, co-CEO of Cherrylake. She explains that for Cherrylake this includes being at the forefront of developing innovative farming and sustainable landscape practices that address some of Florida’s most pressing environmental challenges, including water quality, soil health, and biodiversity. “Connecting to the beauty of our natural environment inspires how we can best plan for the future. Planting more natives to promote a diverse ecosystem in our built environments is part of that vision.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the mural is scheduled for Sunday, August 25, 2024, at 9 am with the South Lake Chamber during the Downtown Clermont Farmer’s Market. Cherrylake will partner with the local non-profit THRIVE to sell native perennial plants during the event, with all proceeds benefiting THRIVE’s mission to support teens in the Clermont area.
