Fresh produce is vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, including windstorms, floods, drought and temperature extremes, which are quite common and may occur with higher frequency or be less predictable in the future due to the effects of climate change. Unfavorable growing conditions can reduce both crop size and crop quality. In extreme cases, entire harvests may be lost in some geographic areas. Citrus groves are subject to damage from frost and freezes, and this has happened periodically in the past. In some cases, the fruit is damaged or ruined; in the case of extended periods of cold, the trees can also be damaged or killed. These factors have in the past and could in the future increase costs, decrease revenues and lead to additional charges to earnings, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our citrus operations are concentrated in central and south Florida, with our groves located in parcels in DeSoto, Polk, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte, Highlands, and Hardee Counties. Because our groves are located in close proximity to each other, the impact of adverse weather conditions has been and may continue to be material to our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. Florida is particularly susceptible to the occurrence of hurricanes and tropical storms. Depending on where any particular hurricane or tropical storm makes landfall, our properties have in the past and could in the future experience significant, if not catastrophic damage. Hurricanes and tropical storms have the potential to destroy crops and impact citrus production through the loss of fruit and destruction of trees and/or plants either as a result of high winds or through the spread of windblown disease. Such damage could materially affect our citrus operations and could result in a loss of operating revenues from those products for a multi-year period. For instance, recent Hurricane Ian had a material adverse effect on the fruit production from our trees for the 2023 harvest season and, potentially to a lesser extent, the next season and future seasons. Furthermore, recent and future hurricanes and tropical storms may lead to inventory impairment charges. We recognized an inventory impairment charge of $19,549 in the fourth quarter of the year ended September 30, 2024 related to our 2024-2025 estimated harvest. We seek to minimize hurricane risk by the purchase of insurance contracts, but a significant portion of our crops remain uninsured. In addition to hurricanes and tropical storms, the occurrence of other natural disasters and climate conditions in Florida, such as tornadoes, floods, freezes (such as the freeze in the last week of January 2022), unusually heavy or prolonged rain, droughts and heat waves, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and our ability to realize income from our crops or properties. Given the significant impact of these conditions, we have evaluated and may continue to evaluate strategic options for the management and utilization of our land. In January 2025, we announced the Strategic Transformation under which we plan to wind down our Alico Citrus division, which holds our citrus production operations, after completion of the current harvest in April 2025. In May 2025, we entered into a Mutual Contract Termination Agreement with Tropicana, terminating our agreement with them in its entirety following the fulfillment of all obligations under that agreement concerning the 2024/2025 Crop Year and all outstanding amounts had been settled by June 30, 2025. We expect that approximately 3,460 citrus acres will be managed by third-party caretakers for another season through 2026. These adverse weather conditions may continue to negatively impact our results of operations and financial position related to our citrus operations during the remaining harvests. Furthermore, adverse weather conditions may also affect our results of operations and financial position as we shift our focus to our long-term land development strategy.