Alico Reports Second Quarter Earnings

LABELLE, Fla., May 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Alico, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALCO), a land management company, announced net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 of $1.5 million, or $0.21 per share, compared with net earnings of $5.5 million, or $0.75 per share, during the three months ended March 31, 2007. For the six months ended March 31, 2008, the Company reported net earnings of $4.3 million, or $0.59 per share, compared with net earnings of $8.1 million, or $1.10 per share, for the six months ended March 31, 2007.

Operating revenues during the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 totaled $49.3 million, compared with $56.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Operating revenues were $72.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2008, compared with $83.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2007.

Results in thousands:


                            Three months ended      Six months ended
                                 March 31,              March 31,
                              2008       2007       2008        2007
                            --------   --------   --------   --------
 Operating revenue
  Agricultural operations   $ 48,553   $ 54,766   $ 67,562   $ 78,177
  Non-agricultural
   operations                    722        889      1,398      1,559
  Real estate operations          --        803      3,869      3,250
                            --------   --------   --------   --------

 Total operating revenue    $ 49,275   $ 56,458   $ 72,829   $ 82,986
                            ========   ========   ========   ========

 Gross profit:
  Agricultural operations   $  5,940   $ 12,307   $  6,734   $ 15,498
  Non-agricultural
   operations                    586        763      1,154      1,320
  Real estate operations        (542)      (401)     2,436      1,806
                            --------   --------   --------   --------
  Gross profit                 5,984     12,669     10,324     18,624
 Profits from the sale of
  bulk real estate                --       (254)       817      1,038
 Net interest and
  investment income              884        593      2,751        958
 Corporate general and
  administrative and other    (4,220)    (3,313)    (6,956)    (6,406)
                            --------   --------   --------   --------
 Income before income taxes    2,648      9,695      6,936     14,214
 Provision for income taxes    1,110      4,192      2,608      6,131
                            --------   --------   --------   --------
               Net Income   $  1,538   $  5,503   $  4,328   $  8,083
                            ========   ========   ========   ========

 * Citrus prices have declined an estimated 28% during fiscal year
   2008 from their prior year levels.  For this reason, the Company
   expects profits from its citrus groves to be lower in fiscal year
   2008 when compared with fiscal year 2007.  Prices have declined in
   the Florida citrus industry due to an increasing supply of citrus
   as groves have recovered from the damages brought on by the
   hurricanes of 2004 and 2005.

 * Fewer calves were sold during the six months ended March 31, 2008
   compared with the six months ended March 31, 2007.  As a result,
   cattle revenues decreased from their prior year levels.
   Additionally, due to rising feed and fuel costs, cattle margins
   have eroded considerably, causing the Company to write down its
   cattle inventory by $1.0 million, to its net realizable value.

 * The Company restructured a contract in October 2007 for the sale of
   real estate, with the terms retroactive to the original closing in
   July 2005. The Company recognized approximately $0.8 million of
   non-operating gain and interest income of $1.5 million in
   connection with the restructure.

About Alico, Inc.

Alico, Inc., a land management company operating in Central and Southwest Florida, owns approximately 135,500 acres of land located in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Polk counties. Alico is involved in various agricultural operations and real estate activities. Alico's mission is to grow its asset values through its agricultural and real estate activities to produce superior long-term returns for its shareholders.

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements include expectations regarding the future performance of the Company's operating divisions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.