IMG Citrus is proud to announce the acquisition of a large citrus grove in Charlotte County, Florida. This 2,500-acre grove, now known as the Imagine Grove, marks a notable expansion of our agricultural footprint, increasing our citrus land management in Florida by 27%. Our total acreage in the state as of April 2021, now stands at 11,387 acres, further solidifying our position as a key player in the Florida citrus market.

Originally planted in the 1990s and previously known as the Chiquita grove, the Imagine Grove is an embodiment of our vision for the future of Florida citrus. It is a mixed-use farm property, hosting a variety of citrus trees including Ruby Red, Star, Flame, and Ray red grapefruit, Navel oranges, and Cara Cara oranges. In line with our commitment to growth and sustainability, we plan to plant an additional 60 acres of grapefruit this fall and continue with new grove plantings in the coming years.
Over the next three years, we intend to invest over $1.5 million in capital expenditures to enhance the infrastructure and add equipment to the property. There is also the potential for diversification with the possibility of growing watermelons using the existing infrastructure.

A unique aspect of the Imagine Grove is its 752 acres of wetlands, teeming with wildlife and natural beauty. Melanie Ressler, Co-CEO of IMG Citrus, highlights this feature as central to our ethos as farmers. By sustainably managing producing acres and conserving wetlands, we strive to balance productive agriculture with environmental stewardship.

The addition of the Imagine Grove to our portfolio increases our geographical diversification, particularly in southwest Florida. It complements our existing Avant Grove in DeSoto County’s Arcadia, further expanding our presence in the region.

The Imagine Grove also presents opportunities for landscape business integration through its 60 acres of active sod land. With plans to expand this operation to its full potential of 219 acres, the sod will likely be marketed under our sister company Cherrylake’s brand, renowned for its ornamental trees, palms, shrubs, and landscape services.

Melanie Ressler reflects on the significance of this acquisition, noting the high-quality red grapefruit for which Florida is famous. This expansion not only enriches our product offerings to our customers but also consolidates our leadership in the Florida fresh grapefruit market.

This property was acquired from the Packers of Indian River, with whom we share a long-standing partnership. This acquisition continues our collaborative relationship, following our previous purchases of the Happy Food Grove in 2019 and the Sweet 60 Groves in 2017. We are also delighted to welcome the experienced team of employees from the property, some of whom have been working there for over 30 years.

With the acquisition of the Imagine Grove, we at IMG Citrus are excited to deepen our commitment to Florida citrus and look forward to the fruitful opportunities this new venture brings.