Alico, Inc. (“Alico”) has announced the appointment of Mitch Hutchcraft as the new Executive Vice President of Real Estate, effective immediately.
In 2022, Alico initiated a process to evaluate the long-term potential of its approximately 54,500 acres of real estate spread across seven counties in Florida. As a publicly traded company, Alico aims to provide its investors with the stability of a conventional agricultural investment while leveraging the potential of active land management.
Alico remains committed to being the largest citrus grower in Florida, continuing its citrus operations without interruption. However, the company recognizes the importance of regularly assessing its entire real estate portfolio to determine the optimal use for each acre it owns.
Last summer, Alico began preliminary work on a multi-year entitlement process for its 4,500-acre Corkscrew Grove near Fort Myers in Collier County. Citrus operations at Corkscrew Grove continue as planned.
Mitch Hutchcraft brings extensive experience to Alico, having served for 17 years as Vice President of Real Estate at King Ranch. His responsibilities included land acquisition, asset protection from regulatory changes, long-term value enhancement, public policy, and operational improvements through real estate projects.
For nearly eight years, Mr. Hutchcraft led King Ranch’s legal, entitlement, and strategic planning activities for the property now known as “Kingston.” This notable real estate development, located on over 6,600 acres, includes significant restoration and preservation efforts and is expected to feature 10,000 dwelling units, 240 hotel units, and substantial commercial space. Kingston is situated along Corkscrew Road in Lee County, Florida, near Alico’s Corkscrew Grove.
Prior to his tenure at King Ranch, Mr. Hutchcraft served as Regional Vice President for Bonita Bay Group from 2001 to 2007. He was involved in various aspects of land acquisition, strategic planning, entitlements, permitting, site design, community development, and governmental affairs for several planned communities, including Shadow Wood Preserve, Veranda, Murphy’s Landing, and LaBelle Village.
Mr. Hutchcraft’s early career includes significant consultancy roles on major Florida projects, such as GulfCoast Town Center, and serving as a liaison between the Celebration Company and Osceola County during the early phases of Disney’s Celebration.
Additionally, Mr. Hutchcraft served as a Governing Board Member of South Florida’s Water Management District from 2013 to 2017, focusing on key Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and water quality projects across multiple counties.
Alico’s President and CEO, John Kiernan, expressed his excitement about Mr. Hutchcraft’s appointment: “With over 30 years of experience, Mitch is renowned for his patience, persistence, innovation, and ability to build consensus in challenging environments. His expertise in residential and mixed-use development, profitable preservation strategies, land acquisition, land use entitlements, project positioning, public and private partnerships, and leadership in public policy is unmatched. As Alico expands its strategy to optimize its asset portfolio, I cannot think of a stronger leader to drive us toward long-term success. My colleagues and I are delighted to welcome Mitch to Alico.”
