Who wants to buy Tampa Bay land? Orange growers

You'll never guess who's sniffing out real estate deals in Central Florida: Orange growers.

Just a few short years after the Tampa Bay citrus industry was left for dead in a puff of bulldozer smoke, growers are hunting for "good performing groves" on which to expand their businesses, said Jennifer Sizemore, a Realtor with Tampa's Shasteen-Sizemore Co.

The reason? The weak U.S. dollar. Since late last year, the dollar has depreciated by a third against the Brazilian real. Brazil happens to be Florida's biggest competitor in the orange juice market.

"If we stop importing from Brazil, it's better for Florida growers," Sizemore said.

Not just any grove will do. Sizemore said land-hungry growers require healthy orchards that never ceased production to get into the home-building game.

James Thorner can be reached at jthorner@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3313.