New Milestone for IMG Citrus With Sweet Sixty Packinghouse Facility

Vero Beach, FL-based IMG Citrus has announced its new flagship facility, Sweet Sixty, is officially fully operational for the 2025-2026 Florida citrus season.

The milestone marks the successful completion of a vision first set in motion in 2022, when the longtime integrated citrus grower, importer, and packer acquired the newly built 185,000-square-foot cold storage and packing facility formerly owned by J&J Fresh Produce.

Strategically located just minutes from both I-95 and the Florida Turnpike, and a few hours north of the Port of Miami, Sweet Sixty was always intended to be more than just additional square footage. For IMG Citrus, it was a cornerstone of a long-term growth strategy to create an integrated cold storage, packing, and distribution hub that strengthens supply chain efficiency and positions the operation for continued expansion in year-round citrus supply.

Between 2023 and 2025, IMG Citrus operated both the legacy Gifford packinghouse and the new Sweet Sixty facility. The company initially moved its import program into Sweet Sixty to leverage its advanced cold storage and distribution capacity while continuing Florida citrus operations in Gifford.

Now, with all packing and distribution consolidated under one roof, Sweet Sixty has been purposefully designed for efficiency, combining integrated existing equipment with strategic investments in cutting-edge technology and ample capacity to support IMG Citrus’s growing year-round citrus program.

Notable additions include:
• Relocation and enhanced MAF grading lines and MAF Compact electronic sizers, designed for high-speed, high-precision fruit sorting.
• A brand new organic line to meet growing demand from consumers and retail partners.
• A high-pressure stainless steel bin washer from California ensures superior sanitation and reduced water usage.
• Integration of a fresh mesh combo bagging line, offering a 320% increase in packing speed and unmatched precision, freshness, and retail readiness.

In total, IMG Citrus has invested more than $3 million in upgrades to the Sweet Sixty facility.

For more information, visit imgcitrus.com.