Business
Alico, Inc. Announces Strategic Transformation of Agriculture Operations to Unlock Value in Land Holdings
Company announces it will wind down its Alico Citrus division to focus on its long-term diversified land usage and real estate development strategy Conference
About this update from Alico, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Company announces it will wind down its Alico Citrus division to focus on its long-term diversified land usage and real estate development strategy Conference call and webcast to discuss announcement at 8:30 am Eastern Time today FORT MYERS, Fla., Jan. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alico, Inc. (“Alico” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: ALCO), today announces a strategic transformation to become a diversified land company with each of its properties now expected to create profitable agricultural revenue opportunities that are not citrus-related until the Highest and Best Use (“HBU”) for these acres can be realized. Alico owns approximately 53,371 acres of land across eight counties in Florida, as well as approximately 48,700 acres of oil, gas and mineral rights in the state. Alico Citrus, which holds the Company’s citrus production operations, has faced increasing financial challenges from citrus greening disease and environmental factors for many seasons. The Company has decided to not spend further capital on its citrus operations after the current crop is harvested in 2025. It will focus its resources on creating new opportunities for profitable growth while also acting prudently on behalf of shareholders. Alico expects to maintain its commitment to the Florida agriculture industry through diversified farming operations on nearly all its land holdings following this citrus production transition. Alico also expects to entitle certain parcels of its land for commercial and residential development. The Company believes these strategic decisions improve its ability to provide investors with a greater return on capital that includes the benefits and stability of a conventional agriculture investment, with the optionality that comes with active land management. “For over a century, Alico has been proud to be one of Florida’s leading citrus producers and a dedicated steward of its agricultural land, but we must now reluctantly adapt to changing environmental and economic realities. Our citrus production has declined approximately 73% over the last ten years, despite significant investments in land, trees and citrus disease treatments, and the current harvest will likely be lower in volume than the previous season. The impact of Hurricanes Irma in 2017, Ian in 2022 and Milton in 2024 on our trees, already weakened from years of citrus greenin...