LMNR · Read the filing

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Business Approach

We cannot assure you that our evaluation of potential strategic alternatives to enhance value for stockholders will be successful; and there may be negative impacts on our business and stock price as a result of the process of exploring strategic alternatives.

On December 1, 2023, the Company announced the commencement of a process to explore strategic alternatives, which could include, but not be limited to, a sale of all or parts of the Company, merger or other transaction. The Board has not set a timetable for the completion of this review process and there can be no assurance that it will result in any transaction or outcome. Whether the process will result in any additional transactions, our ability to complete any transaction, and if our Board decides to pursue one or more transactions, will depend on numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control. Such factors include the interest of potential acquirers or strategic partners in a potential transaction, the value potential acquirers or strategic partners attribute to our businesses and their respective prospects, market conditions, interest rates and industry trends.

Our stock price may be adversely affected if the evaluation does not result in additional transactions or if one or more transactions are consummated on terms that investors view as unfavorable to us. Even if one or more additional transactions are completed, there can be no assurance that any such transactions will be successful or have a positive effect on stockholder value. Our Board may also determine that no additional transaction is in the best interest of our stockholders. In addition, our financial results and operations could be adversely affected by the strategic process and by the uncertainty regarding its outcome.

The attention of management and our Board could be diverted from our core business operations. We have diverted capital and other resources to the process that otherwise could have been used in our business operations, and we will continue to do so until the process is completed.

We could incur substantial expenses associated with identifying and evaluating potential strategic alternatives, including those related to employee retention payments, equity compensation, severance pay and legal, accounting and financial advisor fees. In addition, the process could lead us to lose or fail to attract, retain and motivate key employees, and to lose or fail to attract customers or business partners. Furthermore, it could expose us to litigation. The public announcement of a strategic alternative may also yield a negative impact on operating results if prospective or existing service providers are reluctant to commit to new or renewal contracts or if existing customers decide to move their business to a competitor.

We do not intend to disclose developments or provide updates on the progress or status of the strategic process until our Board deems further disclosure is appropriate or required. Accordingly, speculation regarding any developments related to the review of strategic alternatives and perceived uncertainties related to the future of the Company could cause our stock price to fluctuate significantly.

Risks Related to Our Agribusiness Operations

Adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, including earthquakes and wildfires, and other natural conditions, including the effects of climate change, could impose significant costs and losses on our business.

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. We purchase crop insurance for certain crops which partially mitigates our exposure.

All of our crops are subject to damage from frosts 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.

Additionally, a significant portion of our agricultural plantings and our corporate headquarters are located in a region of California that is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and wildfires. For example, in December 2017, high winds and the related Southern California wildfires caused a brief power outage at our Santa Paula, California packinghouse and destroyed 14 of our farm worker housing units. While our orchards did not suffer significant damage in the wildfire, the potential for significant damage to a substantial amount of our plantings from a natural disaster in the future continues to exist. Furthermore, if a natural disaster or other event occurs that prevents us from using all or a significant portion of our corporate headquarters, as a result of a power outage or otherwise, or that damages critical infrastructure, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue our business for a substantial amount of time.

For the foregoing reasons, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, including earthquakes and wildfires, or other natural conditions, including the effects of climate change, could severely disrupt our operations, and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Our agricultural plantings are potentially subject to damage from disease and pests, which could impose losses on our business and the prevention of which could impose significant additional costs on us.

Fresh produce is vulnerable to crop disease and to pests (e.g., Mediterranean Fruit Fly and the Asian Citrus Psyllid (“ACP”)), which may vary in severity and effect, depending on the stage of production at the time of infection or infestation, the type of treatment applied and climatic conditions.

ACP is an aphid-like insect that is a serious pest to all citrus plants because it can transmit the disease Huanglongbing (“HLB”) when it feeds on the plants’ leaves and trees. ACP is a federal action quarantine pest subject to interstate and international quarantine restrictions by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), including a prohibition on the movement of nursery stock out of quarantine areas and a requirement that all citrus fruit be cleaned of leaves and stems prior to movement out of the quarantine area. Due to the discovery of ACP in our orchards, we have experienced costs related to the quarantine and treatment of ACP.

In September 2023, two HLB-positive citrus trees were detected on a residential property in the City of Santa Paula, California. Following this detection, the California Department of Food and Agriculture established a mandatory five-mile-radius quarantine area, encompassing approximately 1,100 acres of Limoneira-owned lemon orchards. In July 2024, an additional 75 HLB-positive trees were detected on residential properties in the City of Santa Paula. In response, the quarantine area was expanded in September 2024 to account for the new detections. The quarantine restricts the movement of citrus fruit, trees, and related plant materials, subject to specific protocols. The estimated additional costs to spray insecticides on our orchards within the quarantine area are $0.3 million to $0.4 million for fiscal year 2025. There is no assurance that HLB will not be detected on Limoneira orchards in the future.

The costs to control these diseases and other infestations vary depending on the severity of the damage and the extent of the plantings affected. Moreover, there can be no assurance that available technologies to control such infestations will continue to be effective. These infestations can increase costs, decrease revenues and lead to additional charges to earnings, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our strategy of marketing and selling our lemons directly to our food service, wholesale and retail customers may not continue to be successful.

Directly obtaining and retaining customers, particularly chain stores and other large customers, is highly competitive, and the prices or other terms of our sales arrangements may not be sufficient to retain existing business, maintain current levels of profitability or obtain new business. Industry consolidation (horizontally and vertically) and other factors have increased the buying leverage of the major grocery retailers in our markets, which may put further downward pressure on our pricing and volume and could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our earnings are sensitive to fluctuations in market supply and prices and demand for our products.

Excess supply often causes severe price competition in our industry and the worldwide lemon market is currently in an over-supplied position. Growing conditions in various parts of the world, particularly weather conditions such as windstorms, floods, droughts and freezes, as well as diseases and pests, are primary factors affecting market prices because of their influence on the supply and quality of product. The COVID-19 pandemic also reduced the demand for our products resulting in excess supply.

Fresh produce is highly perishable and generally must be brought to market and sold soon after harvest. Some items, such as avocados and oranges, must be sold more quickly, while other items, such as lemons, can be held in cold storage for longer periods of time. The selling price received for each type of produce depends on all of these factors, including the availability and quality of the produce item in the market and the availability and quality of competing types of produce.

In addition, general public perceptions regarding the quality, safety or health risks associated with particular food products could reduce demand and prices for some of our products. To the extent that consumer preferences evolve away from products that we produce for health or other reasons, and we are unable to modify our products or to develop products that satisfy new consumer preferences, there will be a decreased demand for our products. However, even if market prices are unfavorable, produce items which are ready to be, or have been, harvested must be brought to market promptly. A decrease in the selling price received for our products due to the factors described above could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our earnings may be subject to seasonal variability.

Our earnings may be affected by seasonal factors, including:

•the seasonality of our supplies and consumer demand;

•the ability to process products during critical harvest periods; and

•the timing and effects of ripening and perishability.

Increases in commodity or raw product costs, such as fuel and paper, could adversely affect our operating results.

Many factors may affect the cost and supply of fresh produce, including external conditions, commodity market fluctuations, currency fluctuations, changes in governmental laws and regulations, agricultural programs, severe and prolonged weather conditions and natural disasters. Increased costs for purchased fruit have negatively impacted our operating results in the past, and there can be no assurance that they will not adversely affect our operating results in the future.

The price of various commodities can significantly affect our costs. The cost of petroleum-based products is volatile and there can be no assurance that there will not be further increases in such costs in the future. If the price of oil rises, the costs of our herbicides and pesticides can be significantly impacted.

The cost of paper is also significant to us because many of our products are packed in cardboard boxes for shipment. If the price of paper increases and we are not able to effectively pass these price increases along to our customers, then our operating income will decrease. Increased costs for paper have negatively impacted our operating income in the past, and there can be no assurance that these increased costs will not adversely affect our operating results in the future.

Increases in labor, personnel and benefits costs could adversely affect our operating results.

We primarily utilize labor contractors to grow, harvest and deliver our fruit to our lemon packinghouse or outside packing facilities. We utilize a combination of employees and labor contractors to process our lemons in our lemon packing facility. Our employees and contractors are in demand by other agribusinesses and other industries. Shortages of labor could delay our harvesting or lemon processing activities or could result in increases in labor costs.

Our labor contractors and we are subject to government mandated wage and benefit laws and regulations. For example, the State of California, where a substantial number of our labor contractors are located, passed regulations that will increase minimum wage rates to $16.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025 due to a cost-of-living increase provision in the state’s minimum wage law. The State of Arizona minimum wage rates also rise each year based on the annual cost of living and will increase to $14.70 per hour effective January 1, 2025. In addition, current or future federal or state healthcare legislation and regulation, including the Affordable Care Act, may increase our medical costs or the medical costs of our labor contractors that could be passed on to us.

Changes in immigration laws could impact the ability of Limoneira to harvest its crops.

We engage third parties to provide personnel for our harvesting operations. The availability and number of such workers is subject to decrease if there are changes in U.S. immigration laws. The states in which we operate are considering or have already adopted new immigration laws or enforcement programs, and the U.S. Congress and the Department of Homeland Security from time to time consider and may implement changes to federal immigration laws, regulations or enforcement programs. Immigration laws have recently been an area of considerable focus by the Department of Homeland Security, with enforcement operations taking place across the country, resulting in arrests and detentions of unauthorized workers. Termination of a significant number of personnel who are found to be unauthorized workers or the scarcity of available personnel to harvest our agricultural products could cause harvesting costs to increase or could lead to the loss of product that is not timely harvested, which could have a material adverse effect to our citrus and avocado operations, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The lack of sufficient water would severely impact our ability to produce crops or develop real estate.

The average rainfall in Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties in California is substantially below amounts required to grow crops and therefore we are dependent on our surface water rights and rights to pump water from underground aquifers. Extended periods of drought in California may put additional pressure on the use and availability of water for agricultural uses, and in some cases, governmental authorities have diverted water to other uses. As California has grown in population, there are increasing and multiple pressures on the use and distribution of water, which many view as a finite resource. Lack of available potable water can also limit real estate development.

Our water resources include water rights, usage rights and pumping rights to the water in aquifers under, and canals that run through, the land we own. Water for our farming operations is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes rights to water in the adjudicated Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore and Paso Robles Basins (aquifers). We use federal project water in Arizona from the Colorado River through the YMIDD. We also acquired water rights in Chile.

California received above average precipitation during the 2022 - 2023 and 2023 - 2024 rainfall seasons, after experiencing three years of below average precipitation and drought conditions. The above average precipitation helped to alleviate the drought conditions in California. As of October 31, 2024, the state was free from extreme drought conditions and Ventura County was free from any drought conditions. We continue to assess the impact drought conditions may have on our California orchards.

In August 2023 and August 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that Lake Mead will operate in a Tier 1 shortage in 2024 and 2025, respectively, which requires Arizona to forfeit approximately 18% of the state’s yearly allotment of water from Lake Mead. In response to this and prior years’ water shortages, we entered into fallowing agreements during fiscal years 2023 and 2022 and continue to assess the impact these ongoing reductions may have on our Arizona orchards.

For fiscal year 2024, irrigation costs for our agricultural operations were similar compared to fiscal year 2023. Costs may increase as we pump more water than our historical averages and federal, state and local water delivery infrastructure costs may increase to access these limited water supplies. We have an ongoing plan for irrigation improvements continuing for fiscal year 2025 that includes drilling new wells and upgrading existing wells and irrigation systems.

We believe we have access to adequate supplies of water for our agricultural operations as well as our real estate development and rental operations and currently do not anticipate that future drought conditions will have a material impact on our operating results. However, if future drought conditions are worse than prior drought conditions or if regulatory responses to such conditions limit our access to water, our business could be negatively impacted by these conditions and responses in terms of access to water and/or cost of water.

The use of herbicides, pesticides and other potentially hazardous substances in our operations may lead to environmental damage and result in increased costs to us.

We use herbicides, pesticides and other potentially hazardous substances in the operation of our business. We may have to pay for the costs or damages associated with the improper application, accidental release or use or misuse of such substances. Our insurance may not be adequate to cover such costs or damages or may not continue to be available at a price or under terms that are satisfactory to us. In such cases, payment of such costs or damages could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Environmental and other regulation of our business, including potential climate change regulation, could adversely impact us by increasing our production cost or restricting our ability to import certain products into the United States.

Our business depends on the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural products. The use and disposal of these products in some jurisdictions are subject to regulation by various agencies. A decision by a regulatory agency to significantly restrict the use of such products that have traditionally been used in the cultivation of one of our principal products could have an adverse impact on us. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, the EPA is undertaking a series of regulatory actions relating to the evaluation and use of pesticides in the food industry. Similarly, in the EU, regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 fundamentally changed the pesticide approval process to hazard criteria based on the intrinsic properties of the substance. These actions and future actions regarding the availability and use of pesticides could have an adverse effect on us. In addition, if a regulatory agency were to determine that we are not in compliance with a regulation in that agency’s jurisdiction, this could result in substantial penalties and a ban on the sale of part or all of our products in that jurisdiction.

A global economic downturn may have an adverse impact on participants in our industry, which cannot be fully predicted.

The full impact of a global economic downturn on customers, vendors and other business partners, such as that seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, cannot be anticipated. For example, major customers or vendors may have financial challenges unrelated to us that could result in a decrease in their business with us or, in extreme cases, cause them to file for bankruptcy protection. Similarly, parties to contracts may be forced to breach their obligations under those contracts. Although we exercise prudent oversight of the credit ratings and financial strength of our major business partners and seek to diversify our risk to any single business partner, there can be no assurance that there will not be a bank, insurance company, supplier, customer or other financial partner that is unable to meet its contractual commitments to us. Similarly, stresses and pressures in the industry may result in impacts on our business partners and competitors, which could have wide-ranging impacts on the future of the industry.

We are subject to the risk of product contamination and product liability claims.

The sale of food products for human consumption involves the risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from tampering by unauthorized third parties, product contamination or spoilage, including the presence of foreign objects, substances, chemicals, other agents, or residues introduced during the growing, storage, handling or transportation phases. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, we cannot be sure that consumption of our products will not cause a health-related illness in the future or that we will not be subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or injury could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our corporate and brand image. Moreover, claims or liabilities of this sort might not be covered by our insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we may have against others. We maintain product liability insurance; however, we cannot be sure that we will not incur claims or liabilities for which we are not insured or that exceed the amount of our insurance coverage.

We are subject to transportation risks.

An extended interruption in our ability to ship our products could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, any extended disruption in the distribution of our products or supply chain issues could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. While we believe we are adequately insured and would attempt to transport our products by alternative means if we were to experience an interruption due to strike, natural disasters or otherwise, we cannot be sure that we would be able to do so or be successful in doing so in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Events or rumors relating to LIMONEIRA or our other trademarks and related brands could significantly impact our business.

Consumer and institutional recognition of the LIMONEIRA, One World of Citrus®, Santa®, Paula®, Bridal Veil®, Fountain®, Golden Bowl®, Level®, Kiva®, Kachina®, Oxnard Lemon and Trapani Fresh trademarks and related brands and the association of these brands with high quality and safe food products are an integral part of our business. The occurrence of any events or rumors that cause consumers and/or institutions to no longer associate these brands with high quality and safe food products may materially adversely affect the value of our brand names and demand for our products.

Government regulation could increase our costs of production and increase legal and regulatory expenses.

Growing, packaging, storing and distributing food products are activities subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation, as well as foreign regulation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), the USDA and various state and local public health and agricultural agencies regulate these aspects of our operations. Our business is subject to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act to ensure food safety. This Act provides direct recall authority to the FDA and includes a number of other provisions designed to enhance food safety, including increased inspections by the FDA of food facilities. The Federal Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, which specifies standards for the sale, shipment, inspection and rejection of agricultural products, governs our relationships with our fresh food suppliers with respect to the grading and commercial acceptance of product shipments. Import and export controls and similar laws and regulations, in both the United States and elsewhere affect our business. Issues such as health and safety, which may slow or otherwise restrict imports and exports, could adversely affect our business. In addition, the modification of existing laws or regulations or the introduction of new laws or regulations could require us to make material expenditures or otherwise adversely affect the way that we historically operated our business.

Our strategy to expand international supply and marketing may not be successful and may subject us to risks associated with doing business in corrupt environments.

While we intend to expand our lemon supply sources to international markets and explore opportunities to expand our marketing of lemons, we may not be successful in implementing this strategy. Additionally, in many countries outside of the United States, particularly in those with developing economies, it may be common for others to engage in business practices prohibited by laws and regulations applicable to us, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or similar local anti-bribery laws. These laws generally prohibit companies and their employees, contractors or agents from making improper payments to government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Failure to comply with these laws could subject us to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We depend on our infrastructure to have sufficient capacity to handle our annual lemon production needs.

Our infrastructure has sufficient capacity for our lemon production needs, but if we lose machinery or facilities due to natural disasters or mechanical failure, we may not be able to operate at a sufficient capacity to meet our lemon production needs. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, which could impact our results of operations and our financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

We may be unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations.

To service our debt, we require a certain amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash, make scheduled payments or refinance our obligations depends on our successful financial and operating performance. Our financial and operating performance, cash flow and capital resources depend upon prevailing economic conditions and various financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include among others:

•economic and competitive conditions;

•changes in laws and regulations;

•operating difficulties, increased operating costs or pricing pressures we may experience; and

•delays in implementing any strategic projects.

If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell material assets or operations, obtain additional capital or restructure our debt. If we are required to take any actions referred to above, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that we would be able to take any of these actions on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that these actions would enable us to continue to satisfy our capital requirements or that these actions would be permitted under the terms of our various debt agreements.

Restrictive covenants in our debt instruments restrict or prohibit our ability to engage in or enter into a variety of transactions, which could adversely restrict our financial and operating flexibility and subject us to other risks.

Our revolving and non-revolving credit and term loan facilities contain various restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions. In particular, these agreements limit our ability to, among other things:

•incur additional indebtedness;

•make certain investments or acquisitions;

•create certain liens on our assets;

•engage in certain types of transactions with affiliates;

•merge, consolidate or transfer substantially all our assets; and

•transfer and sell assets.

Our revolving and non-revolving credit facility with the AgWest Farm Credit Facility contain a financial covenant that requires us to maintain compliance with a specific debt service coverage ratio on an annual basis. At October 31, 2024 we were in compliance with the debt service coverage ratio of 1.25:1.0. Our failure to comply with this covenant in the future may result in the declaration of an event of default under our AgWest Farm Credit Facility.

Any or all of these covenants could have a material adverse effect on our business by limiting our ability to take advantage of financing, merger and acquisition or other corporate opportunities and to fund our operations. Any future debt could also contain financial and other covenants more restrictive than those imposed under our line of credit and term loan facilities. A breach of a covenant or other provision in any credit facility governing our current and future indebtedness could result in a default under that facility and, due to cross-default and cross-acceleration provisions, could result in a default under our other credit facilities. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under any of our credit facilities, the applicable lender(s) could elect to declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable and, with respect to our revolving credit facility, terminate all commitments to extend further credit. If we were unable to repay those amounts, our lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure the indebtedness. If the lenders under our current or future indebtedness were to accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, we cannot assure you that our assets or cash flow would be sufficient to repay in full our outstanding indebtedness.

Despite our current indebtedness levels and the restrictive covenants set forth in agreements governing our indebtedness, we may still incur significant additional indebtedness, including secured and guaranteed indebtedness. Incurring more indebtedness could increase the risks associated with our overall indebtedness.

Subject to the restrictions in our credit facilities, we may incur significant additional indebtedness. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could increase.

In January 2018, LLCB entered into a $45.0 million unsecured Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (the “Loan”) with Bank of America, N.A. to fund early development activities. Effective as of February 22, 2023, the maximum borrowing amount was reduced to $35.0 million. The obligations under the Loan were guaranteed by certain principals from Lewis and us. In May 2024, the Loan and corresponding guarantee were cancelled. Our real estate development activities could require future loans that may result in future guarantees.

Some of our debt is based on variable rates of interest, which could result in higher interest expenses in the event of an increase in the interest rates.

Our AgWest Farm Credit Facility is subject to variable rates, which generally change as interest rates change. We bear the risk that the rates we are charged by our lender will increase faster than the earnings and cash flow of our business, which could reduce profitability, adversely affect our ability to service our debt, cause us to breach covenants contained in our AgWest Farm Credit Facility, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our Company’s debt agreement with AgWest Farm Credit used LIBOR as a reference rate, which was converted to the Secure Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) on January 1, 2023.

Global capital and credit market issues affect our liquidity, increase our borrowing costs and may affect the operations of our suppliers and customers.

The global capital and credit markets experienced increased volatility and disruption over the past several years, making it more difficult for companies to access those markets. We depend in part on stable, liquid and well-functioning capital and credit markets to fund our operations. Although we believe that our operating cash flows and existing credit facilities will permit us to meet our financing needs for the foreseeable future, there can be no assurance that continued or increased volatility and disruption in the capital and credit markets will not impair our liquidity or increase our costs of borrowing. Our business could also be negatively impacted if our suppliers or customers experience disruptions resulting from tighter capital and credit markets or a slowdown in the general economy.

Risks Related to Our Real Estate Development Operations

We are involved in a cyclical industry and are affected by changes in general and local economic conditions.

The real estate development industry is cyclical and is affected by changes in general and local economic conditions, including:

•employment levels;

•availability of financing;

•interest rates;

•consumer confidence;

•demand for the developed product, whether residential or industrial;

•supply of similar product, whether residential or industrial; and

•local, state and federal government regulation, including eminent domain laws, which may result in taking for less compensation than the owner believes the property is worth.

The process of project development and the commitment of financial and other resources occur long before a real estate project comes to market. A real estate project could come to market at a time when the real estate market is depressed. It is also possible in a rural area like ours that no market for the project will develop as projected.

A recession in the global economy, or a downturn in national or regional economic conditions, could adversely impact our real estate development business.

Future economic instability or tightening in the credit markets could lead to another housing market collapse, which could adversely affect our real estate development operations and those of our equity method investments. Future real estate sales, revenues, financial condition, results of operations and equity in earnings of investments could suffer as a result. Our business is sensitive to economic conditions in California, where our real estate development properties are located.

Higher interest rates and lack of available financing can have significant impacts on the real estate industry.

Higher interest rates generally impact the real estate industry by making it harder for buyers to qualify for financing, which can lead to a decrease in the demand for residential, commercial or industrial sites. Any decrease in demand will negatively impact our proposed developments. During 2023 and 2022, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System took actions in tightening the monetary policy that resulted in higher interest rates prevailing in the marketplace. During 2024, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System took actions in easing the monetary policy by cutting interest rates. Market interest rates may increase in the future and the increase may materially and negatively affect us. Lack of available credit to finance real estate purchases can also negatively impact demand. Any downturn in the economy or consumer confidence can also be expected to result in reduced housing demand and slower industrial development, which would negatively impact the demand for land we are developing.

We are subject to various land use regulations and require governmental approvals for our developments that could be denied.

In planning and developing our land, we are subject to various local, state, and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning zoning, infrastructure design, subdivision of land and construction. All of our new developments require amending existing general plan and zoning designations, so it is possible that our entitlement applications could be denied. In addition, the zoning that ultimately is approved could include density provisions that would limit the number of homes and other structures that could be built within the boundaries of a particular area, which could adversely impact the financial returns from a given project. In addition, in the past, many states, cities and counties (including Ventura County) approved various “slow growth” or “urban limit line” measures.

If unforeseen regulatory challenges with East Areas I and II occur, we may not be able to develop these projects as planned.

Third-party litigation could increase the time and cost of our real estate development efforts.

The land use approval processes we must follow to ultimately develop our projects have become increasingly complex. Moreover, the statutes, regulations and ordinances governing the approval processes provide third parties the opportunity to challenge the proposed plans and approvals. As a result, the prospect of third-party challenges to planned real estate developments provides additional uncertainties in real estate development planning and entitlements. Third-party challenges in the form of litigation would, by their nature, adversely affect the length of time and the cost required to obtain the necessary approvals. In addition, adverse decisions arising from any litigation would increase the costs and length of time to obtain ultimate approval of a project and could adversely affect the design, scope, plans and profitability of a project.

We are subject to environmental regulations and opposition from environmental groups that could cause delays and increase the costs of our real estate development efforts or preclude such development entirely.

Environmental laws that apply to a given site can vary greatly according to the site’s location and condition, the present and former uses of the site, and the presence or absence of sensitive elements like wetlands and endangered species. Environmental laws and conditions may (i) result in delays, (ii) cause us to incur additional costs for compliance, mitigation and processing land use applications, or (iii) preclude development in specific areas. In addition, in California, third parties have the ability to file litigation challenging the approval of a project, which they usually do by alleging inadequate disclosure and mitigation of the environmental impacts of the project. While we have worked with representatives of various environmental interests and wildlife agencies to minimize and mitigate the impacts of our planned projects, certain groups opposed to development may oppose our projects vigorously, so litigation challenging their approval could occur. Recent concerns over the impact of development on water availability and global warming increases the breadth of potential obstacles that our developments face.

Our real estate development projects are concentrated entirely in California.

All of our real estate development projects are located in California, and our business is especially sensitive to the economic conditions within California. Any adverse change in the economic climate of California, and any adverse change in the political or regulatory climate of California or Ventura County, could adversely affect our real estate development activities. Ultimately, our ability to sell or lease lots may decline as a result of weak economic conditions or restrictive regulations.

If the real estate industry weakens or instability of the mortgage industry and commercial real estate financing exists, it could have an adverse effect on our real estate activities.

If the residential real estate market weakens or instability of the mortgage industry and commercial real estate financing exists, our residential real estate business could be adversely affected. An excess supply of homes available due to foreclosures or the expectation of deflation in house prices could also have a negative impact on our ability to sell our inventory when it becomes available.

We rely on contractual arrangements with third-party advisors to assist us in carrying out our real estate development projects and are subject to risks associated with such arrangements.

We utilize third-party contractor and consultant arrangements to assist us in operating our real estate development division. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing direct control over this business division. For example, our third-party advisors could fail to take actions required for our real estate development businesses despite their contractual obligation to do so. If the third-party advisors fail to perform under their agreements with us, we may have to rely on legal remedies under the law, which may not be effective. In addition, we cannot assure you that our third-party advisors would always act in our best interests.

If we are unable to complete land development projects within forecasted time and budget expectations, if at all, our financial results may be negatively affected.

We intend to develop land and real estate properties as suitable opportunities arise, taking into consideration the general economic climate. New real estate development projects have a number of risks, including the following:

•construction delays or cost overruns that may increase project costs;

•receipt of zoning, occupancy and other required governmental permits and authorizations;

•development costs incurred for projects that are not pursued to completion;

•earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires or other natural disasters that could adversely affect a project;

•defects in design or construction that may result in additional costs to remedy or require all or a portion of a property to be closed during the period required to rectify the situation;

•our ability to raise capital;

•the impact of governmental assessments such as park fees or affordable housing requirements;

•governmental restrictions on the nature and size of a project or timing of completion; and

•the potential lack of adequate building/construction capacity for large development projects.

If any development project is not completed on time or within budget, our financial results may be negatively affected.

If we are unable to obtain required land use entitlements at reasonable costs, or at all, our operating results would be adversely affected.

The financial performance of our real estate development activities is closely related to our success in obtaining land use entitlements for proposed development projects. Obtaining all of the necessary entitlements to develop a parcel of land is often difficult, costly and may take several years, or more, to complete. In some situations, we may be unable to obtain the necessary entitlements to proceed with a real estate development or may be required to alter our plans for the development. Delays or failures to obtain these entitlements may have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

We could experience a reduction in net income or reduced cash flows if we are unable to obtain reasonably priced financing to support our real estate development projects and land development activities.

The real estate development industry is capital intensive, and development requires significant up-front expenditures to develop land and begin real estate construction. Accordingly, we have and may continue to incur substantial indebtedness to finance our real estate development and land development activities. Although we believe that internally generated funds and current and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to fund our capital and other expenditures, including additional land acquisition, development and construction activities, and the amounts available from such sources, may not be adequate to meet our needs. If such sources were insufficient, we would seek additional capital in the form of debt from a variety of potential sources, including bank financing. The availability of borrowed funds to be used for additional land acquisition, development and construction may be greatly reduced, and the lending community may require increased amounts of equity to be invested in a project by borrowers in connection with new loans. The failure to obtain sufficient capital to fund our planned expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations and our results of operations in future periods.

We may encounter risks associated with the real estate joint ventures we entered into in November 2015 and October 2022 with the Lewis Group of Companies including:

•the joint ventures may not perform financially or operationally as expected;

•land values, project costs, sales absorption or other assumptions included in the development plans may cause the joint ventures’ operating results to be less than expected;

•the joint ventures may not be able to obtain project loans on acceptable terms;

•the joint venture partners may not be able to provide capital to the joint ventures in the event external financing or project cash flows are not sufficient to finance the joint ventures’ operations;

•the joint venture partners may not manage the project properly; and

•disagreements could occur between the joint venture partners that could affect the operating results of the joint ventures or could result in a sale of a partner’s interest or the joint ventures at undesirable values.

We may encounter other risks that could impact our ability to develop our land.

We may also encounter other difficulties in developing our land, including:

•natural risks, such as geological and soil problems, earthquakes, fire, heavy rains and flooding and heavy winds;

•shortages of qualified trades people;

•reliance on local contractors, who may be inadequately capitalized;

•shortages of materials;

•increases in the cost of certain materials; and

•environmental remediation costs.

General Risks and Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Our business is highly competitive, and we cannot assure you that we will maintain our current market share.

Many companies compete in our different businesses. However, only a few well-established companies operate on an international, national and regional basis with one or several product lines. We face strong competition from these and other companies in all our product lines.

Important factors with respect to our competitors include the following:

•Some of our competitors may have greater operating flexibility and, in certain cases, this may permit them to respond better or more quickly to changes in the industry or to introduce new products and packaging more quickly and with greater marketing support.

•We cannot predict the pricing or promotional actions of our competitors or whether those actions will have a negative effect on us.

There can be no assurance that we will continue to compete effectively with our present and future competitors, and our ability to compete could be materially adversely affected by our debt levels and debt service requirements.

Currency exchange fluctuation may impact the results of our operations.

We distribute our products both nationally and internationally and have foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies besides the U.S. dollar. Our international sales are primarily transacted in U.S. dollars. Our results of operations are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates in both sourcing and selling locations and our foreign subsidiaries. In the past, periods of a strong U.S. dollar relative to other currencies led international customers, particularly in Asia, to find alternative sources of fruit.

We are dependent on key personnel and the loss of one or more of those key personnel may materially and adversely affect our prospects.

We currently depend heavily on the services of our key management personnel. The loss of any key personnel could materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. Our success will also depend in part on our ability to attract and retain additional qualified management personnel.

Inflation can have a significant adverse effect on our operations.

Inflation can have a major impact on our agribusiness operations. The farming operations are most affected by escalating costs, unpredictable revenues (due to an oversupply of certain crops) and very high irrigation water costs. High fixed water costs related to our farm lands will continue to adversely affect earnings. Prices received for many of our products are dependent upon prevailing market conditions and commodity prices. Therefore, it is difficult for us to accurately predict revenue, and we cannot pass on cost increases caused by general inflation, except to the extent reflected in market conditions and commodity prices.

System security risks, data protection breaches, cyber-attacks and systems integration issues could disrupt our internal operations or services provided to customers, and any such disruption could reduce our expected revenue, increase our expenses, damage our reputation and adversely affect our stock price.

Computer programmers and hackers may be able to penetrate our network security and misappropriate or compromise our confidential information or that of third parties, create system disruptions or cause shutdowns. Computer programmers and hackers also may be able to develop and deploy viruses, worms, and other malicious software programs that attack our products or otherwise exploit any security vulnerabilities of our products. In addition, sophisticated hardware and operating system software and applications that we produce or procure from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture, including “bugs” and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the operation of the system. The costs to us to eliminate or alleviate cyber or other security problems, bugs, viruses, worms, malicious software programs and security vulnerabilities could be significant, and our efforts to address these problems may not be successful and could result in interruptions, delays, cessation of service and loss of existing or potential customers that may impede our sales, packing, distribution or other critical functions.

Portions of our IT infrastructure also may experience interruptions, delays or cessations of service or produce errors in connection with systems integration or migration work that takes place from time to time. We may not be successful in implementing new systems and transitioning data, which could cause business disruptions and be more expensive, time consuming, disruptive and resource-intensive. Such disruptions could adversely impact our ability to fulfill orders and interrupt other processes. Delayed sales, lower margins or lost customers resulting from these disruptions could adversely affect our financial results, stock price and reputation.

The acquisition of other businesses could pose risks to our operating income.

We intend to continue to consider acquisition prospects that complement our business. While we are not currently a party to any agreement with respect to any acquisitions, we may acquire other businesses in the future. Future acquisitions by us could result in accounting charges, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, and increased debt and contingent liabilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our common stock. Acquisitions entail numerous risks, including the integration of the acquired operations, diversion of management’s attention to other business concerns, risks of entering markets in which we have limited prior experience, and potential loss of key employees of acquired organizations. We may be unable to successfully integrate businesses or the personnel of any business that might be acquired in the future, and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business and on the market price of our common stock. Additionally, in fiscal year 2024 we recorded an impairment charge on our most recently acquired foreign subsidiary, and we may incur further impairment charges on this or other foreign subsidiaries in the future.

The value of our common stock could be volatile.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. There are numerous and varied risks, known and unknown, that may prevent us from achieving our goals. The risks described here are not the only ones we will face. If any of these risks or other risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In such event, the trading price of our common stock could decline and investors in our common stock could lose all or part of their investment.

The overall market and the price of our common stock may fluctuate greatly and we cannot assure you that you will be able to resell shares at or above market price. The trading price of our common stock may be significantly affected by various factors, including:

•quarterly fluctuations in our operating results;

•changes in investors’ and analysts’ perception of the business risks and conditions of our business;

•our ability to meet the earnings estimates and other performance expectations of financial analysts or investors;

•unfavorable commentary or downgrades of our stock by equity research analysts;

•fluctuations in the stock prices of our peer companies or in stock markets in general; and

•general economic or political conditions.

Concentrated ownership of our common stock creates a risk of sudden change in our share price.

As of October 31, 2024, directors and members of our executive management team beneficially owned or controlled approximately 8.9% of our common stock. Investors who purchase our common stock may be subject to certain risks due to the concentrated ownership of our common stock. The sale by any of our large stockholders of a significant portion of that stockholder’s holdings could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. In addition, the registration of any significant amount of additional shares of our common stock will have the immediate effect of increasing the public float of our common stock and any such increase may cause the market price of our common stock to decline or fluctuate significantly.

Our charter documents contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a change of control.

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to stockholders. These provisions include the following:

•division of our board of directors into three classes, with each class serving a staggered three-year term;

•removal of directors by stockholders by a supermajority of two-thirds of the outstanding shares;

•ability of the board of directors to authorize the issuance of preferred stock in series without stockholder approval; and

•prohibitions on our stockholders that prevent them from acting by written consent and limitations on calling special meetings.

We incur increased costs as a result of being a publicly traded company.

As a company with publicly traded securities, we incur, and will continue to incur, significant legal, accounting and other expenses. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules promulgated by the SEC and NASDAQ, require us to adopt corporate governance practices applicable to U.S. public companies. These rules and regulations may increase our legal and financial compliance costs, which could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Risk Management & Strategy

Cybersecurity is an on-going risk to our business. We rely on complex information technology systems and networks to conduct business, including communicating with employees and our packing facilities, sourcing citrus from third-party growers and suppliers, selling and shipping our products and reporting results of operations. While we employ resources to monitor and protect our technology infrastructure and sensitive information, these security measures or those of our third-party vendors may not prevent all attempted security breaches or cyber-attacks. A substantial disruption to our or our third-party vendors' information technology systems, whether caused by a significant cyber incident or other unforeseen events, could adversely affect our operations.

The Company is committed to managing cybersecurity risks through ongoing vigilance and enhancement of our cybersecurity policies, procedures, and practices, extending to the safeguarding of sensitive information belonging to the Company, our growers and suppliers, customers, and employees. Through the execution of a leading-practice, risk-based strategy, we are enhancing capabilities to further protect our critical assets by implementing preventive and detective controls and performing continuous security monitoring and active threat response activities. The enhancement of the Company's cybersecurity risk management strategy and related procedures is a continuous activity to ensure the appropriate identification, assessment, and response to risks from cybersecurity threats that may adversely impact our operations. This includes our development and operationalizing of third-party security requirements, incident response procedures, and employee training and awareness programs to improve cybersecurity hygiene throughout our organization. Additionally, we proactively seek input from third-party cybersecurity consultants to independently evaluate our systems and processes, further identify risks and aid us in strengthening our defenses and improve our overall security posture.

Material Cybersecurity Threat Risks

In fiscal year 2024, the Company experienced no cybersecurity incidents that materially impacted our business strategy, operations or financial condition. We maintain cybersecurity insurance coverage to supplement our cybersecurity program, however, this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all potential losses, including reputational damage or costs incurred to improve or strengthen systems against future threats. Recognizing the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, we are actively enhancing our cybersecurity risk management efforts to minimize the likelihood and impact of such incidents.

Cybersecurity Governance

Our Board of Directors, through its Risk Committee with members having extensive experience in finance, asset management and agribusiness operations, oversees the cybersecurity risk management program and is provided quarterly updates by the Vice President of Packing & Technology and third-party security consultants to address our cybersecurity risk mitigation efforts. These updates include the progress of our risk mitigation efforts, cybersecurity strategies and investments. The frequency of these updates allows for informed decision-making and ensures that our Board of Directors is briefed on cybersecurity risks.

Our Vice President of Packing & Technology and our Information Security team are also responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating cybersecurity risks across the Company. All information security managers have attained a bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, with several also having industry-leading certifications in cybersecurity. This collective team has experience in information security and cybersecurity risk management and performs detection and monitoring of cybersecurity threats and incidents on an ongoing basis through a combination of security tooling, alerting mechanisms, automated systems and manual processes to continue to preserve the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our business operations.

Item 2. Properties

Real Estate

We own our corporate headquarters in Santa Paula, California. We own approximately 4,300 acres of farm land in California, 1,300 acres in Yuma, Arizona, 3,500 acres in La Serena, Chile and 1,200 acres in Jujuy, Argentina. We also have an interest in a partnership that owns approximately 200 acres of land. The land used for agricultural plantings consists of approximately 3,400 acres of lemons, approximately 1,400 acres of avocados, approximately 100 acres of oranges and approximately 400 acres of wine grapes. We believe that our properties are generally suitable to meet our production needs for the foreseeable future. Our agribusiness land holdings are summarized below as of October 31, 2024 ($ in thousands):

Ranch Name Acres Book Value Acquisition Date Book Valueper Acre

We own our packing facilities located in Santa Paula, California and Yuma, Arizona, where we process and pack our lemons as well as lemons for other growers. We have a 5.5 acre, one-megawatt ground-based photovoltaic solar generator and one-megawatt roof array, which provide the majority of the power to operate our packing facility.

We own and maintain 240 residential units in Ventura County that we lease to our employees, former employees and outside tenants and we own several commercial office buildings and properties that are leased to various tenants.

We own and have equity investments in real estate development property in Ventura County, California. These properties are in various stages of development for up to approximately 800 residential units.

Water and Mineral Rights

Our water resources include water rights, usage rights and pumping rights to the water in aquifers under, and canals that run through, the land we own. We believe we have adequate supplies of water for our agribusiness segments as well as our rental and real estate development activities. Water for our farming operations located in Ventura County, California is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes approximately 8,600 acre-feet of adjudicated water rights in the Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore Basin (aquifer). Our Windfall Farms property located in San Luis Obispo County, California obtains water from wells that derive water from the Paso Robles Basin (aquifer). Our farming operations in Yuma, Arizona source water from the Colorado River through the YMIDD, where we have access to approximately 11,700 acre-feet of Class 3 Colorado River water rights. We use ground water provided by wells and surface water for our PDA and San Pablo farming operations in La Serena, Chile and our Trapani Fresh farming operations in Argentina.

Our rights to extract groundwater from the Santa Paula Basin are governed by the Santa Paula Basin Judgment (the “Judgment”). The Judgment was entered into in 1996 by stipulation among the United Water Conservation District, the City of Ventura and various members of the Santa Paula Basin Pumpers Association (the “Association”). The Association is a not-for-profit, mutual benefit corporation, which represents the interests of all overlying landowners with rights to extract groundwater from the Santa Paula Basin and the City of Santa Paula. We are a member of the Association and membership is governed by the Association’s Bylaws.

Our California water resources include approximately 11,400 acre-feet of water affiliated with our owned properties, of which approximately 8,600 acre-feet are adjudicated. Our Yuma, Arizona water resources include approximately 11,700 acre-feet of water sourced from the Colorado River. We own shares in various not-for-profit mutual benefit water companies. Our investments in these water companies provide us with the right to receive a proportionate share of water from each of the water companies.

We believe water is a natural resource that is critical to economic growth in the western United States and firm, reliable water rights are essential to our sustainable business practices. Consequently, we have long been a private steward and advocate of prudent and efficient water management. We have made substantial investments in securing water and water rights in quantities that are sufficient to support and, we believe will exceed, our long-term business objectives. We strive to follow best management practices for the diversion, conveyance, distribution and use of water. In the future, we intend to continue to provide leadership in the area of, and seek innovation opportunities that promote, increased water use efficiency and the development of new sources of supply for our neighboring communities.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are a party to various lawsuits, arbitrations or mediations that arise in the ordinary course of business. The disclosure called for by Part I, Item 3 regarding our legal proceedings is incorporated by reference herein from Note 18 – Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “LMNR.” There is no assurance that our common stock will continue to be traded on NASDAQ or that any liquidity will exist for our stockholders.

Holders

On November 30, 2024, there were approximately 220 registered holders of our common stock. The number of registered holders includes banks and brokers who act as nominees, each of whom may represent more than one stockholder.

Dividends

The following table presents cash dividends per common share declared and paid in the periods shown.

Dividend

In December 2024, we declared our quarterly dividend of $0.075 per common share and we expect to continue to pay quarterly dividends at a similar rate to the extent permitted by the financial results of our business and other factors beyond management’s control.

*$100 invested on 10/31/19 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

Fiscal year ending October 31.

The line graph above compares the percentage change in cumulative total stockholder return of our common stock registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) with (i) the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index, assuming reinvestment of dividends, and (ii) the cumulative total return of Dow Jones U.S. Food Producers Index, assuming reinvestment of dividends.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

(1) Shares were acquired from employees in accordance with our stock-based compensation plan as a result of share withholdings to pay income tax related to the vesting and distribution of restricted stock awards.

Item 6. Reserved

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to promote understanding of the results of operations and financial condition. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K). This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those presented under “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This section generally discusses the results of operations for fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023. For discussion related to the results of operations and changes in financial condition for fiscal year 2023 compared to fiscal year 2022 refer to Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our fiscal year 2023 Form 10-K, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 21, 2023.

Overview

Limoneira Company, a Delaware corporation, is the successor to several businesses with operations in California since 1893. We are primarily an agribusiness company founded and based in Santa Paula, California, committed to responsibly using and managing our approximately 10,500 acres of land, water resources and other assets to maximize long-term stockholder value. Our current operations consist of fruit production, sales and marketing, rental operations, real estate and capital investment activities.

We have three business divisions: agribusiness, rental operations and real estate development. The agribusiness division is comprised of four reportable operating segments: fresh lemons, lemon packing, avocados and other agribusiness, which primarily includes oranges, specialty citrus, other crops and farm management services. The agribusiness division includes our core operations of farming, harvesting, lemon packing and lemon sales operations. The rental operations division includes our residential and commercial rentals comprised of 240 completed rental units, leased land operations and organic recycling. The real estate development division includes our investments in real estate development projects. Generally, we see our Company as a land and farming company that generates annual cash flows to support our progress into diversified real estate development activities. As real estate developments are monetized, our agriculture business will then be able to expand more rapidly into new regions and markets.

Recent Developments – Refer to Part I, Item 1 “Fiscal Year 2024 Highlights and Recent Developments”

Results of Operations

The following table shows the results of operations ($ in thousands):

Years Ended October 31,

Net revenues:

Costs and expenses:

Impairment of intangible asset 643 1 % — — % — — %

Gain on legal settlement — — % (2,269) (1) % — — %

Operating (loss) income:

Impairment of intangible asset (643) — —

Gain on legal settlement — 2,269 —

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, net of patronage dividends (961) (494) (2,291)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 542 283 238

Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company $ 7,716 $ 9,400 $ (236)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Due to significant depreciable assets associated with the nature of our operations and interest costs associated with our capital structure, management believes that earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and adjusted EBITDA, which excludes stock-based compensation, named executive officer cash severance, pension settlement cost, impairment of intangible asset, gain on disposal of assets, net, cash bonus related to sale of assets, gain on legal settlement and severance benefits are important measures to evaluate our results of operations between periods on a more comparable basis. Such measurements are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be construed as an alternative to reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information provided is unique to us and may not be consistent with methodologies used by other companies.

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are summarized and reconciled to net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company which management considers to be the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, as follows (in thousands):

Years Ended October 31,

Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company $ 7,716 $ 9,400 $ (236)

Interest expense, net of patronage dividends 961 494 2,291

Named executive officer cash severance — — 432

Impairment of intangible asset 643 — —

Cash bonus related to sale of assets — 2,000 —

Gain on legal settlement — (2,269) —

Severance benefits 1,160 — —

Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023

Revenues

Total net revenues for fiscal year 2024 were $191.5 million compared to $179.9 million for fiscal year 2023. The 6% increase of $11.6 million was primarily due to increased agribusiness revenues from avocados, partially offset by decreased agribusiness revenues from lemons and specialty citrus and other crops, as detailed below ($ in thousands):

Years Ended October 31,

•Lemons: The decrease for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of fresh lemons sold. Fresh lemon sales were $84.0 million and $86.8 million, in aggregate, on 4.5 million and 4.8 million cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $18.87 and $18.24 for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Lemon revenues included brokered lemons and other lemon sales of $32.0 million and $26.2 million, lemon packing of $17.1 million and $20.6 million, and lemon by-product sales of $3.0 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for fiscal years 2024 and 2023. Fiscal year 2023 revenues included settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to lemons.

•Avocados: The increase for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023 was due to increased volume and higher prices of avocados sold. The California avocado crop typically experiences alternating years of high and low production due to plant physiology. We sold 15.1 million and 3.8 million pounds of avocados at an average price per pound of $1.67 and $1.06 for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Fiscal year 2023 revenues included settlement proceeds of $2.4 million allocated to avocados and crop insurance proceeds of $0.7 million.

•Oranges: The decrease for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume and lower prices of oranges sold. We sold 280,000 and 292,000 cartons of oranges at an average price per carton of $18.53 and $19.79 for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

•Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of specialty citrus sold. We sold 79,000 and 240,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus at an average price per carton of $28.23 and $27.18 for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, we sold $2.9 million of wine grapes for both fiscal years 2024 and 2023.

•Farm management: Farm management revenue is comprised primarily of Northern Properties farming, management and operations services. The increase in farm management revenue for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to twelve months of activity in fiscal year 2024 compared to nine months of activity in fiscal year 2023.

•Other: Other revenue is comprised primarily of fallowing and freight revenue. Other revenue for fiscal year 2024 was similar compared to fiscal year 2023.

Other operations revenue for fiscal year 2024 was $5.6 million compared to $5.5 million for fiscal year 2023.

Costs and Expenses

Total costs and expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $197.7 million compared to $169.1 million for fiscal year 2023. The 17% increase of $28.6 million was primarily due to the 2023 net gain on disposal of assets, the 2023 gain on legal settlement and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease in agribusiness costs and expenses. Agribusiness costs and expenses are detailed below ($ in thousands):

Years Ended October 31,

•Packing costs: Packing costs consist primarily of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies and facility operating costs. The decrease for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume. We packed and sold 4.5 million and 4.8 million cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $9.60 and $9.61 for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

•Harvest costs: The decrease in harvest costs for fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023 was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons harvested related to the sale of the Northern Properties, partially offset by increased volume of avocados harvested.

•Growing costs: Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. The decrease for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to farm management decisions based on weather, harvest timing and crop conditions.

•Third-party grower and supplier costs: We sell fruit that we grow and fruit that we procure from other growers and suppliers. The cost of procuring fruit from other growers and suppliers is referred to as third-party grower and supplier costs. The increase for fiscal year 2024, compared to fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to increased volume and higher prices of third-party grower fruit sold. We incurred costs for third-party grower fruit of $40.9 million and $31.9 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Of the 4.5 million and 4.8 million cartons of lemons packed and sold, 3.2 million (72%) and 2.6 million (54%), were procured from third-party growers at average per carton prices of $12.76 and $12.44 for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increased volume for third-party grower fruit was primarily due to the sale of the Northern Properties and the related marketing agreement. Additionally, we incurred costs for supplier costs and purchased, packed fruit for resale of $31.3 million and $29.4 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

•Other costs: The decrease in other costs for fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in shipping costs, mainly related to a decrease in volume of lemons sold.

•Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization expenses for fiscal year 2024 were similar to fiscal year 2023.

Other operations expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $5.3 million compared to $4.6 million for fiscal year 2023. The increase in other operations expenses was primarily due to severance benefits paid in fiscal year 2024 and increased residential and commercial rental expenses.

Gain on disposal of assets, net for fiscal year 2024 was $0.5 million compared to $28.8 million for fiscal year 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the 2023 gain on the sale of the Northern Properties, partially offset by the 2023 loss on disposal of Cadiz Ranch assets.

Gain on legal settlement was $2.3 million for fiscal year 2023 due to the Settlement Agreement related to the Thomas fire.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $27.5 million compared to $26.5 million for fiscal year 2023. The $1.0 million increase was primarily due to:

•$0.9 million increase in selling expenses;

•$0.7 million increase in legal and consulting fees associated with our strategic initiatives;

•$0.1 million net increase in salaries, benefits and incentive compensation; and

•$0.7 million net decrease in other selling, general and administrative expenses.

Other Income

Total other income for fiscal year 2024 was $17.7 million compared to $2.6 million for fiscal year 2023. The $15.1 million increase in total other income was primarily due to:

•$13.0 million increase of equity in earnings of investments, net, primarily due to LLCB’s closing of 554 residential homesites in fiscal year 2024;

•$2.8 million increase of other income, net primarily due to pension settlement cost in fiscal year 2023; and

•$0.5 million increase of interest expense, net of patronage dividends, primarily due to decreased patronage dividends.

Income Taxes

We recorded an income tax provision of $4.4 million and $4.2 million on pre-tax income of $11.5 million and $13.4 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The tax provision recorded for fiscal year 2024 differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to foreign jurisdictions that are taxed at different rates, state taxes, tax impact of stock-based compensation, executive compensation, nondeductible tax items and valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets of foreign subsidiaries. Our effective tax rate for fiscal years 2024 and 2023 was 37.9% and 31.8%, respectively.

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest represents 10% and 49% of the net loss of PDA and Trapani Fresh, respectively, for fiscal years 2024 and 2023.

Segment Results of Operations

We operate in four reportable operating segments: fresh lemons, lemon packing, avocados and other agribusiness. Our reportable operating segments are strategic business units with different products and services, distribution processes and customer bases. We evaluate the performance of our operating segments separately to monitor the different factors affecting financial results. Each segment is subject to review and evaluations related to current market conditions, market opportunities and available resources. During fiscal year 2024, the Company changed its reporting of other revenue and other costs and includes these items in the other agribusiness segment instead of the fresh lemons segment. Prior years’ information has been restated to conform to the current year’s presentation. See Note 21 - Segment Information for additional information regarding our operating segments.

Segment information for fiscal year 2024 (in thousands):

Segment information for fiscal year 2023 (in thousands):

Fiscal Year 2024 Segment Information Compared to Fiscal Year 2023 Segment Information

The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations.”

Fresh Lemons

Fresh lemons segment revenue is comprised of sales of fresh lemons, lemon by-products, brokered lemons and other lemon revenue. Our fresh lemons segment total net revenues for fiscal year 2024 were $119.0 million compared to $117.4 million for fiscal year 2023. The 1% increase of $1.6 million was primarily due to:

•Brokered lemons and other lemon sales increase of $5.8 million;

•Fresh lemon sales decrease of $2.8 million; and

•Legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to fresh lemons in fiscal year 2023.

Costs and expenses associated with our fresh lemons segment include growing costs, harvest costs, cost of lemons we procure from third-party growers and suppliers. Our fresh lemons segment costs and expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $116.3 million compared to $117.6 million for fiscal year 2023. The 1% decrease of $1.3 million was primarily due to:

•Harvest costs decrease of $8.5 million;

•Growing costs decrease of $7.7 million;

•Third-party grower and supplier costs increase of $13.9 million; and

•Intersegment costs and expenses increase of $1.0 million.

Lemon Packing

Lemon packing segment revenue is comprised of packing revenue and intersegment packing revenue. Our lemon packing segment total net revenues for fiscal year 2024 were $49.3 million compared to $51.7 million for fiscal year 2023. The 5% decrease of $2.4 million was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons packed and sold.

Costs and expenses associated with our lemon packing segment consist of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies, subcontracted and facility operating costs. Our lemon packing costs and expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $42.8 million compared to $45.7 million for fiscal year 2023. The 6% decrease of $2.9 million was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons packed and sold, partially offset by increased subcontracted costs.

Lemon packing segment operating income per carton sold for fiscal year 2024 was $1.46 compared to $1.25 for fiscal year 2023.

The lemon packing segment included intersegment revenues for fiscal year 2024 of $32.1 million compared to $31.1 million for fiscal year 2023, that were charged to the fresh lemons segment to pack lemons for sale. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.

Avocados

Our avocados segment revenues for fiscal year 2024 were $25.1 million compared to $7.0 million for fiscal year 2023. The 256% increase of $18.1 million was primarily due to alternating years of high and low production due to plant physiology and higher pricing.

Costs and expenses associated with our avocados segment include growing and harvest costs. Our avocados segment costs and expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $7.3 million compared to $4.0 million for fiscal year 2023. The 82% increase of $3.3 million primarily consisted of the following:

•Harvest costs increase of $2.3 million; and

•Growing costs increase of $1.0 million.

Other Agribusiness

Our other agribusiness segment total net revenues for fiscal year 2024 were $24.6 million compared to $29.3 million for fiscal year 2023. The 16% decrease of $4.7 million was primarily due to:

•Specialty citrus and other crops revenues decrease of $4.4 million;

•Orange revenues decrease of $0.6 million; and

•Farm management revenues increase of $0.3 million.

Costs and expenses associated with our other agribusiness segment include growing costs, harvest costs, purchased fruit costs and shipping costs. Our other agribusiness costs and expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $23.4 million compared to $25.6 million for fiscal year 2023. The 9% decrease of $2.2 million was primarily due to:

•Purchased and supplier fruit costs decrease of $3.0 million;

•Shipping costs decrease of $0.3 million;

•Growing costs increase of $0.9 million; and

•Harvest costs increase of $0.2 million.

Total agribusiness depreciation and amortization expenses for fiscal year 2024 were $7.1 million compared to $7.3 million for fiscal year 2023.

Corporate and Other

Our corporate and other operations revenues for fiscal year 2024 were $5.6 million compared to $5.5 million for fiscal year 2023.

Costs and expenses (gains) in our corporate and other operations for fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were $31.6 million and $(1.3) million, respectively, and include selling, general and administrative costs and expenses, impairment of intangible asset, gain on disposal of assets, net and gain on legal settlement not allocated to the operating segments. Depreciation and amortization expenses for were $1.3 million for both fiscal years 2024 and 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash flows generated from our operations, use of our revolving credit facility, sales of assets and distributions from our equity investments. Our liquidity and capital position fluctuates during the year depending on seasonal production cycles, weather events and demand for our products. Typically, our first and last fiscal quarters coincide with the fall and winter months during which we are growing crops that are harvested and sold in the spring and summer, which are our second and third quarters. To meet working capital demand and investment requirements of our agribusiness and real estate development projects and to supplement operating cash flows, we utilize our revolving credit facility to fund agricultural inputs and farm management practices until sufficient returns from crops allow us to repay amounts borrowed. Raw materials needed to propagate the various crops grown by us consist primarily of fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, fuel and water, all of which are readily available from local sources.

Material contractual obligations arising in the normal course of business consist primarily of purchase obligations, long-term fixed rate and variable rate debt and related interest payments and operating and finance leases. See Note 11 - Long-Term Debt and Note 13 - Leases for amounts outstanding as of October 31, 2024, related to debt and leases. Purchase obligations consist of contracts primarily related to packing supplies, the majority of which are due in the next three years.

We believe that the cash flows from operations and available borrowing capacity from our existing credit facilities will be sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditures, debt service, working capital needs and other contractual obligations for the next 12 months. We believe our revenue generating operations, distributions from equity investments and credit facilities will generate sufficient cash needed to operate beyond the next 12 months. In addition, we have the ability to control a portion of our investing cash flows to the extent necessary based on our liquidity demands.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $17.9 million and $(15.9) million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The significant components of our cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:

•Net income was $7.2 million and $9.1 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The components of net income for fiscal year 2024, compared to net income for fiscal year 2023, primarily consists of a decrease in operating income of $17.0 million and an increase in total other income of $15.1 million.

•Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

◦Adjustments provided (used) $9.0 million and $(22.5) million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily related to depreciation and amortization, gain on disposal of assets, net, stock compensation expense, equity in earnings of investments, net and cash distributions from equity investments.

◦Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided by (used in) $1.7 million and $(2.5) million of operating cash for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily related to cultural costs, accounts payable/growers and suppliers payable, accrued liabilities/payables to related parties, and other long-term liabilities.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

▪The $9.2 million of net cash used in investing activities for fiscal year 2024 was comprised primarily of capital expenditures of $9.4 million related to orchard and vineyard development.

▪The $90.6 million of net cash provided by investing activities for fiscal year 2023 was comprised primarily of net proceeds from sale of assets of $98.5 million, net proceeds from the sale of real estate development assets of $2.6 million, partially offset by capital expenditures of $10.3 million related to orchard and vineyard development.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

•The $9.3 million of net cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2024 was comprised primarily of common and preferred stock dividends of $5.9 million and exchange of common stock of $2.3 million.

•The $71.9 million of net cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2023 was comprised primarily of net repayments of long-term debt of $65.0 million and common and preferred stock dividends of $5.9 million.

Transactions Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources

Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt

We finance our working capital and other liquidity requirements primarily through cash from operations, distributions from equity investments and from our Credit Facility with AgWest Farm Credit, formerly known as Farm Credit West, (the "Lender"), which includes the Master Loan Agreement (the “MLA”), a revolving credit facility supplement (the “Revolving Credit Supplement”), a non-revolving credit facility supplement (the “Non-Revolving Credit Supplement” and, together with the Revolving Credit Supplement, the “Supplements”), and a Fixed Interest Rate Agreement, which extends principal repayment to July 1, 2026. The MLA governs the terms of the Supplements. In addition, we have Banco de Chile term and COVID-19 loans. Additional information regarding these loans can be found in Note 11- Long-Term Debt.

The Supplements provide aggregate borrowing capacity of $115.0 million, comprised of $75.0 million under the Revolving Credit Supplement and $40.0 million under the Non-Revolving Credit Supplement. As of October 31, 2024, our outstanding borrowings under the AgWest Farm Credit Facility were $40.0 million and we had $75.0 million of availability.

On January 31, 2023, we sold the Northern Properties which resulted in total net proceeds of $98.4 million. The proceeds were used to pay down all of our domestic debt except the Non-Revolving Credit Supplement.

The MLA subjects us to affirmative and restrictive covenants including, among other customary covenants, financial reporting requirements, requirements to maintain and repair any collateral, restrictions on the sale of assets, restrictions on the use of proceeds, prohibitions on the incurrence of additional debt and restrictions on the purchase or sale of major assets of our business. We are also subject to a financial covenant that requires us to maintain compliance with a specific debt service coverage ratio of 1.25:1.0 on an annual basis. We were in compliance as of October 31, 2024.

We received annual patronage dividends from the Lender of $0.6 million and $1.4 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Real Estate Development Joint Venture

On April 30, 2024, our real estate development joint venture with Lewis closed an additional 554 residential homesites at the Harvest at Limoneira master planned community in Santa Paula, CA, and we recorded equity in earnings of investments of $17.8 million for LLCB for fiscal year 2024. On June 5, 2024, we received a cash distribution of $15.0 million from the joint venture which we used to pay down debt. As of October 31, 2024, the 50%-owned unconsolidated joint venture had $66.9 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand.

Dividends

The holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Stock”) and the Series B-2 Preferred Stock (the “Series B-2 Preferred Stock”) are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends. Such preferred dividends paid totaled $0.5 million in each of the fiscal years 2024 and 2023.

Cash dividends declared in each of the fiscal years 2024 and 2023 totaled $0.30 per common share and such dividends paid totaled $5.4 million for both fiscal years 2024 and 2023.

Income Taxes

We paid income taxes of $5.2 million and $7.2 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Real Estate Development Activities and Related Capital Resources

As noted under “Transactions Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources,” we have the ability to control a portion of our investing cash flows to the extent necessary based upon our liquidity demands. In order for our real estate development operations to reach their maximum potential benefit to us, however, we will need to be successful over time in identifying other third-party sources of capital to collaborate with us to move those development projects forward. While we are frequently in discussions with potential external sources of capital in respect to all of our development projects, current market conditions for California real estate projects make it difficult to predict the timing and amounts of future capital that will be required to complete the development of our projects.

In November 2015, we entered into a joint venture with Lewis for the residential development of our East Area I real estate development project. To consummate the transaction, we formed LLCB as the development entity, contributed our East Area I property to the joint venture and sold a 50% interest in the joint venture to Lewis for $20.0 million. The first phase of the project broke ground to commence mass grading in November 2017. Approved project plans currently include approximately 2,050 residential units and site improvements. A total of 1,261 residential units have closed from the project’s inception to October 31, 2024.

In October 2022, we entered into a joint venture with Lewis for the development of our 17-acre East Area I Retained Property. We formed LLCB II as the development entity, contributed our Retained Property to the joint venture and sold a 50% interest to Lewis for approximately $8.0 million. We recorded a gain on the transaction of approximately $4.7 million, of which $0.5 million was deferred and recognized in fiscal year 2024.

The joint venture partners will share in the capital contributions to fund project costs until loan proceeds and/or revenues are sufficient to fund the projects. Since inception each partner has made funding contributions of $21.4 million to LLCB and $1.0 million to LLCB II. We expect to receive approximately $165.0 million from LLCB, LLCB II and East Area II over the next six years of the projects.

Trend Information

The commodity pricing for our fresh produce, and therefore our revenues and margins, is significantly impacted by consumer demand. The worldwide fresh produce industry has historically enjoyed consistent underlying demand and favorable growth dynamics. In recent years, the market for fresh produce has increased faster than the rate of population growth, supported by ongoing trends including greater consumer demand for healthy, fresh and convenient foods, increased retailer square footage devoted to fresh produce, and greater emphasis on fresh produce as a differentiating factor in attracting customers. Health-conscious consumers are driving much of the growth in demand for fresh produce. Over the past several decades, the benefits of natural, preservative-free and organic foods have become an increasingly significant element of the public dialogue on health and nutrition. As a result, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables markedly increased. Conversely, a decrease in demand, as was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of restaurant closures, had the impact of reducing our pricing and therefore our revenues and margins.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to develop critical accounting policies and make certain estimates, assumptions and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, available relevant data and other information that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, and we continue to review and evaluate these estimates. Actual results may materially differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions as new or additional information becomes available in future periods. For further information on significant accounting policies, see discussion in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Impairment of Real Estate Development Projects – We evaluate our real estate development projects, held either by us or as included specifically within our investments in LLCB and LLCB II, for impairment on an ongoing basis. Our evaluation for impairment involves an initial assessment of each real estate development project to determine whether events or changes in circumstances exist that may indicate that the carrying amounts of, or investment in, real estate development projects are no longer recoverable. Possible indications of impairment may include events or changes in circumstances affecting the entitlement process, litigation, zoning, government regulation, geographical demand for new housing or commercial property, and market conditions related to residential or commercial land lots. When events or changes in circumstances exist, we further evaluate the real estate development projects for impairment by a) comparing undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated over the life of the real estate development projects to the respective carrying amount for our real estate development or b) determining if our equity in investment incurred an other-than-temporary decline in value.

We make significant judgments in evaluating each real estate development project, as held by us or within our investments in LLCB and LLCB II, for possible indications of impairment. These judgments may relate to the identification of appropriate and comparable market prices, the consideration of changes to legal factors or the business climate, the likelihood of successfully completing the entitlement process, changes in zoning or government regulation, and demand for new housing. Changes in these judgments could have a significant impact on real estate development or equity in investments. No impairment loss has been recognized on any real estate development and no other-than-temporary-impairment has been recognized on our equity in LLCB or LLCB II, for fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022.

The impairment calculation for real estate developments held by us compares the carrying value of the asset to the asset’s estimated future cash flows (undiscounted). If the estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, we calculate an impairment loss. The impairment loss calculation compares the carrying value of the asset to the asset’s estimated fair value, which may be based on estimated future cash flows (discounted). We recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds the asset’s estimated fair value. If we recognize an impairment loss, the adjusted carrying amount of the asset will be its new cost basis. Restoration of a previously recognized impairment loss is prohibited. If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and judgments used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, we may be exposed to impairment losses that could be material to our results of operations.

Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of our equity investments in LLCB and LLCB II might not be recoverable, then we determine whether an impairment is other-than-temporary. If we conclude the impairment is other-than-temporary, we determine the estimated fair value of the investment by performing a discounted cash flow or market approach analysis and recognize an other-than-temporary impairment to reduce the investment to its estimated fair value.

We believe that the accounting estimate related to impairment of real estate development projects held by us, or other-than-temporary impairment of our equity investments in LLCB and LLCB II, is a critical accounting estimate because it is very susceptible to change from period to period; it requires management to make assumptions about future prices, production, and costs, and the potential impact of a loss from impairment could be material to our earnings. Management’s assumptions regarding future cash flows from real estate development projects or return on equity of our investments in LLCB and LLCB II have fluctuated in the past due to changes in prices, production and costs and are expected to continue to do so in the future as market conditions change.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for information concerning recent accounting pronouncements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Borrowings under the AgWest Farm Credit Facility are subject to variable interest rates. These variable interest rates subject us to the risk of increased interest costs associated with any upward movements in interest rates. For the AgWest Farm Credit Facility, our borrowing interest rate is an internally calculated rate based on an AgWest Farm Credit internal method that follows the changing market interest rates and the cost to fund variable-rate loans. Rate changes are expected to be generally the same as the Federal Open Market Committee (the “FOMC”) recommended changes, however the changes may be marginally different than the FOMC’s recommendation. As of October 31, 2024, our total debt outstanding under the AgWest Farm Credit Facility was $40.0 million.

Based on our level of borrowings as of October 31, 2024, a 100 basis points increase in interest rates would not materially increase our interest expense for fiscal year 2025 or the three subsequent fiscal years. Additionally, a 100 basis points increase in the interest rate would not materially decrease our net income for fiscal year 2025 or the three subsequent fiscal years. We have strategies in place to manage our exposure to interest rate risk, including the potential early pay down of outstanding debt under the AgWest Farm Credit Facility. Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources” for additional information.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Limoneira Company

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 44

Consolidated Financial Statements of Limoneira Company

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2024 and 2023 46

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 52

All schedules are omitted for the reason that they are not applicable or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Limoneira Company

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Limoneira Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of October 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity and temporary equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditors, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of October 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We did not audit the financial statements of Limoneira Lewis Community Builders, LLC (“LLCB”), the Company's investment in which is accounted for by use of the equity method. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include, before the basis difference and related amortization discussed in Note 7, its equity in investment in LLCB of $63,581,000 and $58,282,000 as of October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and its equity earnings in LLCB of $20,304,000, $5,851,000, and $1,015,000 for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The financial statements of LLCB were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for the Company’s equity in investment and equity earnings in LLCB, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2024, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated December 23, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Real estate development assets held by the Company and equity in investment in LLCB – Impairment Indicators – Refer to Notes 2, 6, and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company’s evaluation of real estate development projects, held either by the Company or as included specifically within its investment in LLCB, for impairment involves an initial assessment of each real estate development project to determine whether events or changes in circumstances exist that may indicate that the carrying amounts of, or investment in, real estate development projects are no longer recoverable. Possible indications of impairment may include events or changes in circumstances affecting the entitlement process, litigation, zoning, government regulation, geographical demand for new housing or commercial property, and market conditions related to residential or commercial land lots. When events or changes in circumstances exist, the Company further evaluates the real estate development projects for impairment by a) comparing undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated over the life of the real estate development projects to the respective carrying amount for its real estate development or b) determining if its equity in investment has incurred an other-than-temporary decline in value.

The Company makes significant judgments in evaluating each real estate development project as held by them or within its investment in LLCB, for possible indications of impairment. These judgments may relate to the identification of appropriate and comparable market prices, the consideration of changes to legal factors or the business climate, the likelihood of successfully completing the entitlement process, changes in zoning or government regulation, and demand for new housing. Changes in these judgments could have a significant impact on real estate development or equity in investments. Real estate development assets held by the Company were $10,201,000, and equity in investments was $81,546,000 as of October 31, 2024 of which $67,962,000 was related to LLCB. For the year ended October 31, 2024, no impairment loss has been recognized on any real estate development and no other-than-temporary-impairment has been recognized on the Company’s equity in LLCB.

We identified the significant judgments made by management in evaluating real estate development assets held by the Company and equity in investment in LLCB, for possible indicators of impairment, as a critical audit matter. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions when determining whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred indicating that the carrying amount of real estate development assets held by the Company and equity in investment in LLCB may not be recoverable and whether management appropriately identified impairment indicators.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of real estate development assets held by the Company and equity in investment in LLCB for possible indications of impairment included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of the controls over management’s identification of possible circumstances that may indicate that real estate development assets held by the Company or equity in investment in LLCB is no longer recoverable, including controls over management’s evaluation of the entitlement process, litigation, zoning, government regulation, geographical demand and market conditions.

•We evaluated management’s impairment analysis by:

–Searching for adverse asset-specific and/or market conditions by reviewing publicly available information on land values in the surrounding regions of the development, periodicals and news information relating to the Southern California real estate market

–Obtaining information from legal counsel and performing inquiries with management in order to evaluate any changes in the status of litigation matters affecting the real estate development assets and the potential impact on the ability to recover the accumulated costs, including any relevant government regulations and/or other matters impacting the entitlement process

–Obtaining comparable land sales in the area and comparing such data to information used by management with the assistance of our fair value specialists

–Developing an independent expectation of impairment indicators and comparing such expectation to management’s analysis

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Los Angeles, California

December 23, 2024

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

October 31,

Assets

Current assets:

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,849 5,588

Receivables/other from related parties 2,390 4,214

Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Growers and suppliers payable 8,960 9,629

Current portion of long-term debt 559 381

Long-term liabilities:

Commitments and contingencies — —

Stockholders’ equity:

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,614) (5,666)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

Years Ended October 31,

Net revenues:

Costs and expenses:

Impairment of intangible asset 643 — —

Gain on legal settlement — (2,269) —

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, net of patronage dividends (961) (494) (2,291)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 542 283 238

Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company 7,716 9,400 (236)

Net income (loss) applicable to common stock $ 7,215 $ 8,899 $ (737)

Basic net income (loss) per common share $ 0.40 $ 0.50 $ (0.04)

Diluted net income (loss) per common share $ 0.40 $ 0.50 $ (0.04)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands)

Years Ended October 31,

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustments (948) 518 (2,430)

Pension settlement cost, net of tax of zero, $756 and $169 — 1,944 438

Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax (948) 2,242 (2,175)

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 542 283 356

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND TEMPORARY EQUITY

(in thousands, except share data)

Stockholders’ Equity Temporary Equity

Shares Amount Capital Earnings (Loss) Income Stock Interest Equity Stock Stock

Dividends - common ($0.30 per share) — — — (5,315) — — — (5,315) — —

Dividends - Series B ($8.75 per share) — — — (129) — — — (129) — —

Dividends - Series B-2 ($40 per share) — — — (372) — — (372) — —

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax — — — — (2,175) — (118) (2,293) — —

Dividends - common ($0.30 per share) — — — (5,382) — — — (5,382) — —

Dividends - Series B ($8.75 per share) — — — (129) — — — (129) — —

Dividends - Series B-2 ($40 per share) — — — (372) — — — (372) — —

Exchange of common stock (39,472) (1) (566) — — — — (567) — —

Noncontrolling interest adjustment — — — — — — (117) (117) — —

Other comprehensive income, net of tax — — — — 2,242 — — 2,242 — —

Dividends - common ($0.30 per share) — — — (5,406) — — — (5,406) — —

Dividends - Series B ($8.75 per share) — — — (129) — — — (129) — —

Dividends - Series B-2 ($40 per share) — — — (372) — — — (372) — —

Noncontrolling interest adjustment — — — — — — (118) (118) — —

Other comprehensive loss — — — — (948) — — (948) — —

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

Years Ended October 31,

Operating activities

Impairment of intangible asset 643 — —

Gain on legal settlement — (853) —

Cash distributions from equity investments 15,005 220 483

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable and receivables/other from related parties 1,105 815 1,845

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 353 1,487 (325)

Accounts payable and growers and suppliers payable (3,343) (1,772) 1,853

Accrued liabilities and payables to related parties 3,780 (2,921) 3,269

Investing activities

Net proceeds from legal settlement — 853 —

Net proceeds from sale of real estate development assets — 2,577 7,917

Cash distributions from Trapani Fresh 122 122 122

Cash distributions from equity investment 148 — —

Equity investment contributions and capitalized interest (693) (847) (48)

Investments in mutual water companies and water rights (526) (523) (506)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,187) 90,577 19,433

Financing activities

Proceeds from equipment financings — — 1,020

Principal paid on finance leases and equipment financings (698) (491) (377)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (11) (11) (328)

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands)

Years Ended October 31,

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net $ 5,194 $ 7,229 $ 83

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

Contribution of real estate development to equity investment $ — $ — $ 7,975

Reduction of net payables to related parties $ — $ — $ 2,392

Reduction of note receivable $ — $ — $ 388

Capital expenditures accrued but not paid at period-end $ 382 $ 309 $ 430

Cancellation of loan guarantee related to equity investment $ 1,080 $ — $ —

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Business

Limoneira Company (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) engages primarily in growing citrus and avocados, harvesting citrus, and packing, marketing and selling citrus. The Company is also engaged in residential rentals and other rental operations and real estate development activities.

The Company markets and sells citrus directly to food service, wholesale and retail customers throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, and certain other international markets. Through fiscal year 2023, the Company was a member of Sunkist Growers, Inc., an agricultural marketing cooperative, and sold a portion of its oranges, specialty citrus and other crops to Sunkist-licensed and other third-party packinghouses.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the accounts of all the subsidiaries and investments in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The consolidated financial statements represent the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive income (loss), statements of stockholders’ equity and temporary equity and statements of cash flows of Limoneira Company and consolidated subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company considers the criteria established under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) – Accounting Standards Code (“ASC”) 810, Consolidations, and the effect of variable interest entities, in its consolidation process.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounts Receivable

The Company grants credit in the course of its operations to cooperatives, companies and lessees of the Company’s facilities. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. The Company provides allowances on its receivables as required based on accounts receivable aging and other factors. As of October 31, 2024 and 2023 the allowances totaled $355,000 and $260,000, respectively. Credit losses were $235,000 for fiscal year 2024 and immaterial for fiscal years 2023 and 2022.

Concentrations and Geographic Information

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to revenues and accounts receivable are limited due to a large, diverse customer base. One individual customer represented 14% of revenue for fiscal year 2024. One individual customer represented 20% of accounts receivable, net as of October 31, 2024.

No individual supplier represented 10% of accounts payable as of October 31, 2024.

Lemons procured from third-party growers were 72%, 54% and 52% of the Company's domestic lemon supply for fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Four third-party growers and suppliers were 27%, 14%, 11%, and 11% of growers and suppliers payable as of October 31, 2024.

The Company maintains its cash in federally insured financial institutions. The account balances at these institutions periodically exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage and, as a result, there is a concentration of risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage.

Cultural Costs

Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. Harvest costs are comprised of labor and equipment expenses incurred to harvest and deliver crops to the packinghouses.

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Cultural Costs (continued)

Certain of the Company’s crops have distinct growing periods and distinct harvest and selling periods, each of which lasts approximately four to eight months. During the growing period, cultural costs are capitalized as they are associated with benefiting and preparing the crops for the harvest and selling period. During the harvest and selling period, harvest costs and cultural costs are expensed when incurred and capitalized cultural costs are amortized as components of agribusiness costs and expenses.

Due to climate, growing conditions and the types of crops grown, certain of the Company’s other crops may be harvested and sold on a year-round basis. Accordingly, the Company does not capitalize cultural costs associated with these crops and therefore such costs, as well as harvest costs associated with these crops, are expensed to operations when incurred as components of agribusiness costs and expenses.

Most cultural costs, including amortization of capitalized cultural costs, and harvest costs are associated with and charged to specific crops. Certain other costs, such as property taxes, indirect labor, including farm supervision and management, and irrigation that benefit multiple crops are allocated to crops on a per acre basis.

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Such deferred income tax asset and liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Tax benefits from an uncertain tax position are only recognized if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at original cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method at rates based upon the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows (in years):

Land improvements 10 – 30

Buildings and building improvements 10 – 50

LMNR US Equity

LMNR · 10-K · period ended 2024-10-31

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Item 2. Properties

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Item 6. Reserved

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

LMNR US Equity☆

LMNR · 10-K · period ended 2024-10-31

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Item 2. Properties

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Item 6. Reserved

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

LMNR US Equity