IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically integrated citrus grower, packer, and shipper in Vero Beach, FL, announced the acquisition of a large citrus grove in Charlotte County. The 2,500-acre grove increases their control of citrus land management in Florida by 27%, bringing their total acreage in Florida to 11,387 acres and further securing their position as an established citrus leader in the state of Florida. The grove was originally planted in the 1990s and known as the Chiquita grove. The IMG Citrus family has renamed it the Imagine grove, referencing an existing IMG Citrus brand and their excitement for the opportunities to come in Florida citrus.

The 2,500-acre property IMG Citrus acquired is a mixed-use farm property with citrus, vegetable, and sod land. The varieties of citrus on the property include red grapefruit (Ruby Red, Star, Flame, and Ray), Navel oranges, and Cara Cara oranges. IMG Citrus will be planting an additional 60-acres of grapefruit on the property in Fall 2021 with plans to continue new grove plantings in the future. Over the next three years, IMG Citrus intends to invest over $1.5M in capital expenditure through the addition of equipment and the enhancement of the infrastructure of the property. IMG Citrus is also considering growing watermelons on the property with the available infrastructure.

“There are also a total of 752-acres of wetlands on the property with endless amounts of nature and beautiful wildlife,” says Melanie Ressler, IMG Citrus Co-CEO, “This property showcases what really drives our purpose as a farmer. By sustainably managing producing acres and conserving wetlands, we can grow delicious citrus while also diligently conserving our natural resources.”

The Imagine Grove, located in Charlotte County, increases IMG Citrus’ geographical diversification and footprint in southwest Florida. Prior to the Imagine Grove acquisition, the Avant Grove, a total of 1,086-acres and located in DeSoto County’s Arcadia, was IMG Citrus’ only southwestern Florida grove.

As a diversified company, integrating a landscape business through the sod land on the Imagine Grove property provides an appealing development opportunity for IMG Citrus. 60-acres of sod land are currently in production; however, the company intends to redevelop the sod operation to its full capacity of 219-acres of infrastructure. The sod will most likely be marketed under the Cherrylake brand. Cherrylake, Inc. is IMG Citrus’ sister company and one of the largest wholesale producers of ornamental trees, palms, and shrubs in the Southeast. Cherrylake also has a landscape construction division and landscape maintenance division.

“This property has historically produced very high-quality red grapefruit for which Florida is well known, says Melanie Ressler.  “It is exciting to further deepen our offering to our customers and consolidate our position as the leading Florida fresh grapefruit grower.”

The property was acquired from the Packers of Indian River, the same company IMG Citrus previously purchased the Happy Food Grove (3,928-acres) from in 2019 and the Sweet 60 Groves (562-acres) in 2017. The procurement of the Imagine Grove continues the long history and partnership between IMG Citrus and the Packers of Indian River. IMG Citrus will also be onboarding the team of employees, some with 30 years of tenure on the property.

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About IMG Citrus:

IMG Citrus is a second-generation citrus grower, packer, marketer, and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, with over 11,000 acres of productive AGland. Family-owned and operated for over 40 years, IMG Citrus was founded by Michel and Veronique Sallin. Today, a second-generation of family-operators is involved and working alongside the most professional industry leaders that make up the IMG Citrus team. Together, Melanie Ressler, Timothee Sallin, and Chloe Gentry are Co-CEOs of the company, furthering the legacy of their parents’ genuine love for sustainable agriculture and an entrepreneurial spirit that fuels a passion for using the most innovative processes and technologies.

About IMG Enterprises:

IMG Enterprises, the holding company for IMG Citrus and Cherrylake, is a Florida-owned and operated family enterprise with business in citrus, ornamental tree nursery, real estate, mitigation banking, and landscape construction and maintenance. 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 37th on the list of Top Privately Held Companies by the Orlando Business Journal.

The post IMG Citrus Adds 2,500-Acre Grove To Portfolio appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

More commonly known to the American consumer is red grapefruit, a mutation of white and a staple in the citrus aisle. While grapefruit in the U.S. is primarily grown in Florida, Texas, and California, Florida is the only state in the country where white grapefruit is grown. While citrus farmers in Florida have continued to replant an abundance of red grapefruit after the impact of yearly hurricanes, over the course of the past 30 to 40 years, growers have not replanted a significant amount of white grapefruit. However, with IMG Citrus’ recent acquisition of Emerald Grove in St. Lucie County, renamed the Happy Food Grove after their consumer brand, IMG Citrus is now one of the largest growers and suppliers of Florida red and white grapefruit, producing approximately 50% of all white grapefruit in Florida. Along with its 4,000-acre investment, IMG Citrus will begin selling white grapefruit in the U.S., where the company has been selling citrus domestically for decades.

A vital factor regarding the taste of white grapefruit relies significantly on the age of the tree. The older the tree, the better the taste. The vast majority of white grapefruit originating from Florida comes from trees that are more than 25 years of age. Additionally, all-white grapefruit is grown in the Indian River region, the best region for growing grapefruit. Therefore, when you eat white grapefruit from Florida, the odds for something special with a sweet, unique flavor are in your favor.

IMG Citrus will reintroduce white grapefruit to the U.S. market under their primary consumer brand, Happy Food, utilizing contemporary branding to help differentiate the newly added variety for the consumer. The Happy Food brand features happy fruit faces and bright colors, cheerfully lighting up the citrus aisle with a celebratory “be healthy, be happy” slogan. Because of white grapefruit’s unique flavor, its packaging also encourages consumers to experience its “sweet and tasty” flavor profile. IMG Citrus will have white grapefruit in promotable volumes and availability in various sizes including large sizes. Happy Food originally launched in 2013, and includes a range of citrus such as red grapefruit, juice oranges, lemons, navel oranges, mandarins, and tangos. In the future, IMG Citrus is also planning to release white grapefruit as a specialty item to consumers in Europe such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

“When red and white grapefruit are displayed next to each other, they complement each other nicely. This type of display is very common with Japanese retailers” says Michel Sallin, IMG Citrus President, “IMG Citrus is excited to bring white grapefruit back to the U.S. market, providing consumers with more grapefruit variety.”

White grapefruit gave Florida grapefruit its original popularity, and the addition of white grapefruit to the Happy Food brand will add a welcoming new pop of color and a Florida legacy of sweetness, juiciness, and flavor to the citrus aisle.

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 40 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 enterprise with business in citrus, ornamental tree nursery, real estate, mitigation banking, and landscape construction and maintenance. 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 37th on the list of Top Privately Held Companies by the Orlando Business Journal.

The post IMG Citrus Reintroduces The Original, Heirloom Florida Grapefruit To The U.S. Market appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Sallin’s first investment lead to a brokerage business, selling and exporting Florida grapefruit internationally to France, a market they knew well. In 1981, they furthered their Florida Citrus venture with the purchase of a 260-acre grove off Cherry Lake Road located in Lake County to expand their business.

After experiencing a devastating setback caused by the freezes of 1983 and 1985, which destroyed all of their groves, the Sallins decided to rebuild, diversify, and explore the production of a variety of agricultural crops. They settled on pursuing containerized tree farming on the previously frozen Groveland property and relocated their citrus operation, IMG Citrus, to the warmer Indian River County. In 1999, with the purchase of a packinghouse in Vero Beach, Florida, IMG Citrus becomes a fully integrated citrus company that grows, packs, and markets fresh Florida citrus around the world. The following year, IMG Citrus would begin marketing on the domestic market for the first time.

IMG Citrus is totally integrated,” says Michel, “We are the marketing, the grove production, and the packing house…We started as a marketer, and then we went toward production.”

Through constant reinvention and diversification, IMG Citrus has secured its position as an established citrus leader in the state of Florida, solidifying their commitment to the industry.

“One of the phrases we use here a lot is, ‘If it’s not broken, break it and make it better,’” says Sydney Allison, IMG Citrus Director of Sales, “I think that really encompasses the culture and the people we have here. We are always up for challenges. We are never complacent. If things are going too well, we know something is not right. We are always willing to pick up, keep going, and keep looking for the next project, the next change, and the next innovation.”

IMG Citrus recently announced the acquisition of one of the largest grapefruit groves in St. Lucie County. The 4,000-acre grove increases their control of citrus land management in Florida by over 75%, and it also contains a 300-acre reservoir. The grove has been aptly renamed Happy Food Grove, after its main consumer brand “Happy Food,” which can be found in supermarkets across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

“I would like to congratulate IMG Citrus for their 40th anniversary,” says Ryo Takahashi of Tenor Trading Co., Ltd, “I am grateful to have had an internship with IMG Citrus about 20 years ago, beginning my career in citrus. Since then, I have worked closely with the team importing their citrus to Japan. I look forward to continuing and growing our partnership in the future.”

The IMG Citrus family has grown both locally and globally over the decades, acting as a vital aspect of the company’s overall evolution.

“Florida grapefruit has always been a product that was special and rewarding because of its quality and because of the relationship we built along the way,” says José Barbera of Agruban in France, a customer of IMG Citrus for the past 35 years, “We do not just do business with IMG Citrus, we are all apart of the great fruit family.”

Today, a second generation of family-operators are involved and working alongside the most professional industry leaders who make up the IMG Citrus team.

Those attending the PMA Fresh Summit,  October 17-19 in Anaheim, California, were invited to celebrate IMG Citrus’ 40 Year Anniversary at their booth.

 IMG Citrus Celebrates 40 Years video here: https://youtu.be/FCGrOm2khZA

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 40 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 enterprise with business in citrus, ornamental tree nursery, real estate, mitigation banking, and landscape construction and maintenance. 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 37th on the list of Top Privately Held Companies by the Orlando Business Journal.

The post IMG Citrus Celebrates 40 Years In The Florida Citrus Industry appeared first on South Lake Tablet.