Duda confirms sale of citrus acreage, but says category still growing
Duda confirms sale of citrus acreage, but says category still growing
On Dec. 3, Mark Bassetti, vice president of customer development for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, headquartered in Oviedo, FL, told The Produce News that reports stating that A. Duda & Sons (the parent company) has sold 2,000 acres of citrus groves in the state's Indian River region to Premier Citrus Packers in Vero Beach, FL, are true. But he added that A. Duda & Sons has no plans to reduce its involvement in citrus fruits, including citrus from Florida.
"We have continued to build a diversified global citrus program with a strong import program," said Mr. Bassetti. "Duda's line includes clementines and lemons from Chile, and will expand to include Navel oranges [also from Chile] in 2009."
He added, "Duda is the exclusive sales-marketing partner with Mexico Citrus Farms Inc., and we have a Spanish clementine program. We also handle California Navel and Valencia oranges, Minneolas, Cara Caras, lemons, and Meyer lemons, and we have a partnership with Citrines Inc., which allows us to offer a proprietary clementine program."
Mr. Bassetti confirmed that the $15 million purchase, which was finalized in November, was done in two parts. One covered 1,545 acres, and the other transferred 432 acres. The groves are located in Florida's Indian River region, west of Interstate 95 on State Road 60. The Indian River citrus district is internationally known for the high-quality grapefruit produced there.
Asked if A. Duda & Son's decision to sell some of its citrus acreage was related to the problems the Florida citrus industry has faced in recent years, including citrus canker, Huanglongbing disease (commonly referred to as citrus greening) and hurricanes, Mr. Bassetti replied, "The recent issues facing Florida have further validated the strategy we embarked upon several years ago: to diversify our citrus program to allow us to offer a full, year-round program to our U.S. and export customers."
Mr. Bassetti added that A. Duda & Sons purchased citrus groves in Texas in December 2005 to position the company to "weather the challenges" the Florida industry currently faces.
"We plan on continuing to re-invest in citrus plantings and acreage in Florida as well as in other citrus-producing regions as we continue to carry out our strategy," said Mr. Bassetti. "Florida does have challenges today, but we did replant last season, and we'll continue to do so when the time is right."
A. Duda &_Son's also plans to continue handling citrus from other areas of the United States and the world in the future. "We have a tremendous amount of acreage in California and Mexico that is just coming into production," Mr. Bassetti said. "That will increase our program over the next two to three years. As well, we will continue to expand our program in areas that will further enhance our quality product offerings."
Mr. Bassetti also confirmed that prior to the grove acreage sale to Premier Citrus, A. Duda & Sons sold an additional 332 acres of Florida citrus grove acreage to IMG Citrus Inc. in Vero Beach, FL.
"We have continued to build a diversified global citrus program with a strong import program," said Mr. Bassetti. "Duda's line includes clementines and lemons from Chile, and will expand to include Navel oranges [also from Chile] in 2009."
He added, "Duda is the exclusive sales-marketing partner with Mexico Citrus Farms Inc., and we have a Spanish clementine program. We also handle California Navel and Valencia oranges, Minneolas, Cara Caras, lemons, and Meyer lemons, and we have a partnership with Citrines Inc., which allows us to offer a proprietary clementine program."
Mr. Bassetti confirmed that the $15 million purchase, which was finalized in November, was done in two parts. One covered 1,545 acres, and the other transferred 432 acres. The groves are located in Florida's Indian River region, west of Interstate 95 on State Road 60. The Indian River citrus district is internationally known for the high-quality grapefruit produced there.
Asked if A. Duda & Son's decision to sell some of its citrus acreage was related to the problems the Florida citrus industry has faced in recent years, including citrus canker, Huanglongbing disease (commonly referred to as citrus greening) and hurricanes, Mr. Bassetti replied, "The recent issues facing Florida have further validated the strategy we embarked upon several years ago: to diversify our citrus program to allow us to offer a full, year-round program to our U.S. and export customers."
Mr. Bassetti added that A. Duda & Sons purchased citrus groves in Texas in December 2005 to position the company to "weather the challenges" the Florida industry currently faces.
"We plan on continuing to re-invest in citrus plantings and acreage in Florida as well as in other citrus-producing regions as we continue to carry out our strategy," said Mr. Bassetti. "Florida does have challenges today, but we did replant last season, and we'll continue to do so when the time is right."
A. Duda &_Son's also plans to continue handling citrus from other areas of the United States and the world in the future. "We have a tremendous amount of acreage in California and Mexico that is just coming into production," Mr. Bassetti said. "That will increase our program over the next two to three years. As well, we will continue to expand our program in areas that will further enhance our quality product offerings."
Mr. Bassetti also confirmed that prior to the grove acreage sale to Premier Citrus, A. Duda & Sons sold an additional 332 acres of Florida citrus grove acreage to IMG Citrus Inc. in Vero Beach, FL.
