- State's 2nd-largest citrus producer exits industry after 74% production decline
- Two 4,500-unit villages planned with 6,000 acres of conservation buffers
- Florida orange yields now 10% of 1990s peak due to disease/storms
Southwest Florida's agricultural landscape continues vanishing beneath bulldozers as Alico – owner of 53,000+ acres – finalizes plans for Suncrest Communities. This strategic shift follows the company's January 2024 announcement to halt citrus operations after harvesting just 1.2 million boxes this season, down from 4.6 million in 2014.
The development blueprint reveals an emerging pattern across former citrus heartlands. Polk County alone has converted 18,000 acres of groves to subdivisions since 2020, while Lake County's agricultural land values surged 210% post-COVID. Industry analysts warn these changes could:
- Reduce groundwater recharge by 37% in critical aquifers
- Eliminate 1,200+ seasonal farming jobs by 2027
- Increase wildfire risks as fallow groves become overgrown
Florida's citrus collapse stems from compounding crises. Huanglongbing (HLB) disease infected 98% of commercial groves by 2023, while three major hurricanes since 2022 destroyed 154,000 trees. The USDA reports the state's citrus output now ranks below California for the first time since 1948.
Suncrest's conservation-minded design includes wildlife corridors connecting to the CREW Land & Water Trust. However, environmentalists question building 9,000 homes in former floodplains. These wetlands absorbed 8 billion gallons during Hurricane Ian,notes Everglades Coalition director Mara Santos. Paving them risks catastrophic flooding for existing communities.
The shift reflects Florida's population boom – 1,200+ daily newcomers requiring 700+ new homes. Alico's land portfolio could ultimately accommodate 45,000 residences, though market analysts predict demand will slow as insurance rates climb 63% since 2022.