IMG Citrus, an integrated fresh citrus company based in Vero Beach, Florida in the United States, announced the acquisition of the J&J Fresh Produce assets located in Vero Beach. These assets include a new 185,000 square foot cold storage and packaging facility and 1,000 acres of farmland in the Delta Farms water district.
"This is an exciting acquisition and a key component of our growth strategy," said Melanie Ressler, Co-CEO of IMG Enterprises, the parent company of IMG Citrus. "We have been replanting citrus in Florida for the past decade while developing a summer citrus import program with strategic partners in South America. We have outgrown our existing facilities, and this acquisition will allow us to continue our growth trajectory while significantly strengthening our supply chain and logistics capabilities."
The facility is strategically located between I-95 and the Florida Turnpike, just a few hours north of Port Everglades and the Port of Miami. With over 3,000 pallet positions, state-of-the-art refrigeration technology, 20 dock doors, and space for future expansion, the new facility will support IMG Citrus' strategy of supply chain integration. "We are more than a grower. We are a strategic partner for retailers, wholesalers, importers, and exporters who want to work with Florida and access the Southeast markets with the most efficient cost structure and the shortest transit time to market. This facility allows us to reduce costs, food miles, and increase freshness for our partners," Ressler said.
Despite challenges facing the Florida citrus industry in recent years, IMG Citrus has maintained a positive outlook. During a period of prolonged industry decline, the company has made significant acquisitions, including the 4,000-acre Happy Food Grove in 2019 and the 2,500-acre Imagine grove in 2021. "We are passionate about Florida citrus. Florida produces the best-tasting grapefruit in the world, and our customers are passionate about the product. This is what gives us the confidence to invest in challenging times,” Ressler said.
In 2021, IMG Citrus planted its first Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS) project, a controlled environment that allows growers to produce in a greening-free environment. "We are encouraged by what we are seeing from our trees in CUPS, and we plan to expand the CUPS program over the coming years to further increase supply and diversify production risk," Ressler stated.
In addition to doubling down on its commitment to Florida citrus, IMG Citrus has embraced a year-round citrus strategy by developing imports from South America. "We saw an opportunity to meet our customers’ needs and utilize our packing house and cold storage facilities in the summer with imported fruit from Peru and Chile," Ressler said.
The growth of IMG Citrus' import business, which started in 2017, has exceeded 1.1 million cartons per year and is expected to continue to grow as the company expands its cold storage capacity and distribution capabilities.
For more information:
Melanie Ressler
IMG Enterprises
Email: [email protected]
www.imgenterprises.com
