Alico Citrus is one of America’s largest citrus producers. We own and manage Citrus Groves in seven Florida counties – Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hendry, Hardee, Highlands, and Polk – and engage in the cultivation of citrus trees to produce citrus for delivery to the fresh and processed citrus markets. Alico Citrus totaled approximately 49,000 acres at November 30, 2020.
Our Alico Citrus division cultivates citrus trees to produce citrus for delivery to the processed and fresh citrus markets. Our sales to the processed market constitute approximately 91% of our citrus sales annually. We produce Early and Mid-Season varieties, primarily Hamlin oranges, as well as a Valencia variety for the processed market. We deliver our fruit to the processors in boxes which contain 90 pounds of oranges. Because the processors convert the majority of the citrus crop into orange juice, they generally do not buy their citrus on a per box basis but rather on a pound solids basis, which is the measure of the soluble solids (sugars and acids) contained in one box of fruit.
Our sales to the fresh market constitute approximately 3% of our citrus sales annually. We produce numerous varieties to the fresh fruit market including grapefruit, navel and other fresh varieties. Generally, our fresh fruit is sold to packing houses by the box, and the packing houses are responsible for the harvest and haul of these boxes.
On July 16, 2020, the Company executed an agreement with an affiliated group of third parties to provide citrus grove caretaking and harvest and haul management services for approximately 7,000 acres owned by such third parties. Grove management services include caretaking of the citrus groves, harvesting and hauling of citrus, management and coordination of citrus sales and other related activities. The Company is reimbursed for expenses incurred in the execution of its management duties and the Company receives a per acre management fee.
