Florida grower shifts focus to new community development

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    FORT MYERS, Fla. — In a significant shift from its traditional operations, one of Florida’s leading citrus producers has unveiled plans to establish a substantial new community in the southwest region of the state. This development comes only a short time after the company declared its intention to cease its citrus-growing activities at the conclusion of this year’s harvest.

    Alico, Inc., the company in question, has submitted plans for the creation of two village-style developments in proximity to the convergence point of Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties. Designed to accommodate around 4,500 residences each, these villages will also incorporate 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares) of protected conservation zones, as outlined in the company’s announcement.

    The Fort Myers-headquartered company claims ownership of 53,371 acres (21,600 hectares) spread across eight counties in Florida, alongside holding rights to 48,700 acres (19,700 hectares) for oil, gas, and minerals within the state. Earlier this year in January, Alico disclosed its plan to exit citrus farming, citing a severe drop in yield—almost 75% over the past ten years.

    The decline in Alico’s citrus production is indicative of broader issues plaguing Florida’s citrus sector, which has been grappling with significant setbacks. Among the challenges is citrus greening, a devastating disease that, coupled with hurricane damage, has resulted in a staggering 90% reduction in Florida’s orange output over the last 20 years. Adding to this is the state’s growing population, which has spurred developers to transform former orange grove land into residential communities.

    At the start of the 21st century, citrus orchards encompassed over 832,000 acres (337,000 hectares) in Florida. However, this number dwindled to approximately 275,000 acres (111,300 hectares) last year. In light of these changes, California has now taken the lead as the country’s foremost producer of citrus products.