On the afternoon of April 15, a man shot himself in the leg while waiting in line at the Groveland Publix, 7975 SR 50.  Groveland Police reports show that around 5:45 pm a man waiting to check out was injured in a shooting.  “Video footage showed the subject at the end of checkout lane #5 adjusting his waistband with his right hand and no one else in his immediate vicinity. The subject then jumped slightly grasping his right thigh area while falling to the floor,” according to Groveland Police Department Officer Howell’s report.  “Employees and managers of Publix initiated contact with the subject, removing the firearm from his right hip area and clearing the firearm before the arrival of officers.”

The injured man was attended to by a Publix employee and another person. The police arrived to find them between the registers and the exit door.  The helpful bystanders continued their aid with officer Getford until the arrival of the Groveland Fire and Lake EMS personnel.

Officer Getford observed the gun while helping the victim.  It was being watched by another Publix employee.  While waiting for the EMS, the victim stated he was trying to adjust his waistband, and accidentally discharged his weapon into his own leg.  The victim was taken to ORMC for further treatment.

Police secured the weapon, a magazine, 6 unused cartridges, a single 45 caliber casing, and a concealed weapon license.  Those items have been cataloged and placed in a property box at the Groveland Police Station.

Responding were officers Clark, Black, Getford, McGee, Moore, Boodhoo and Urbanowski.  Officer Howell was listed as the responsible officer in the police report.

The post Oops! Man Shoots Himself While In Line At Groveland Publix appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

“Investing in agri-business is always risky, but citrus is even more so today because of Greening,” said Michel Sallin, IMG Citrus President. “We know Florida grapefruit is the best in the world. We believe in this industry and we believe in Florida grapefruit. A solution to Greening will be found, and when that day comes, we’ll be ready.”

While Greening remains a threat, IMG Citrus’ production model utilizes innovative practices and technologies to keep groves productive and profitable.

“We have adopted a more aggressive approach to production, focusing on high density, and super high density planting methods to help combat Greening by creating a more controlled environment,” said Brian Randolph, Director of Grove Production. “In the new grove, we can optimize nutrient and water management, a critical factor for production in a Greening environment. This level of precision not only helps keep the trees healthy, but it’s more environmentally sustainable by reducing water use and nutrient runoff.”

An additional 397 undeveloped tree acres will be home to the company’s new grove redevelopment project, with 273 acres of citrus trees to be set within high-density planting blocks predicted to produce mature fruit within three years, and 124 acres of trees set within existing traditional blocks.

Their high-density planting methods were fine-tuned over the last three years at their groves at Cherrylake, IMG Citrus’ sister company, also founded and operated by the Sallin family.

“Cherrylake was originally all citrus groves,” explains Sallin. “We lost nearly everything during the freezes in the 1980’s. Rather than shut everything down, we adapted by turning our Cherrylake property into a thriving, ornamental tree farm that focuses on landscape construction and maintenance, while moving our citrus operation down south to where it is today. 75 Acres of land at Cherrylake is still dedicated to citrus, where we have been able to explore new varieties and high-density planting methods.”

The newly-acquired Happy Food Grove also contains a 300-acre reservoir and is home to native wildlife including deer, wild turkey, alligators, Roseate Spoonbills, and Blue Herons.

“We are stewards of our environment, and we diligently protect the quality of our air, land, and water,” said  Sallin. “We realize that we do not own our land, but rather, we are borrowing it from future generations. Our best management practices help ensure our horticultural practices are in line with this philosophy.”

In addition to the land purchase, the acquisition also included transitioning 17 existing grove employees to IMG Citrus.

“It was important to us that we did not disrupt the operation of the grove, and more importantly, that the employees felt reassured that IMG Citrus would continue to provide them the opportunity to work and grow within the company,” said Joaquin Perez, Human Resources Manager. “Our goal is to make the transition as easy and as seamless as possible, and I think we’ve done that well through open communication. Employees have kept their same positions, they’re just part of a bigger family now.”

About IMG Citrus:

IMG Citrus is a second-generation citrus grower, packer, marketer, and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, with over 9,000 acres of productive AGland. Family owned and operated for over 35 years, IMG Citrus was founded by Michel and Veronique Sallin. Born and raised on a French farm, Michel has a genuine love for sustainable agriculture and an entrepreneurial spirit that fuels a passion for using the most innovative processes and technologies. Today, a second generation of family-operators is involved and working alongside the most professional industry leaders that make up the IMG Citrus team.

About Happy Food:

Happy Food is IMG Citrus’ primary consumer brand and is marketed in North America, Europe, and Asia. The brand features bright colors, happy fruit faces, and is used to pack citrus including grapefruit, oranges, and mandarins grown in Florida, as well as South America and Mexico. Since its launch in 2013, Happy Food continues to re-energize the citrus aisle with a cheerful, contemporary brand that promotes a healthy, happy lifestyle.

About IMG Enterprises:

IMG Enterprises, the holding company for IMG Citrus, is a Florida owned and operated family agri-business with divisions in citrus, real estate, mitigation banking, and landscape construction. The mission of IMG Enterprises is to manage a sustainable enterprise rooted in the land which benefits its family, employees, and community while having a positive impact on the environment. With over 500 employees, the company ranks 31st on the list of Top Privately Held Companies by the Orlando Business Journal.

The post “The Future of Florida Citrus is Bright” – IMG Enterprises Adds 4,000-Acre Grove To Citrus Portfolio appeared first on South Lake Tablet.