Welcome to Ecogrove! a family-owned farm located in South Florida dedicated to growing Sweet Tsai Lychees, a new and unique variety of lychees found nowhere else in the world.

Following our family passion for farming fine exotic tropical fruits we crossed paths with Dr. James Tsai, a retired agriculturalist, entomologist and professor emeritus of the University of Florida. Professor Tsai used all his expertise brought from China, where his family has been growing lychees for generations, to grow lychees at his local grove in Florida. He created his very own hybrid of lychee tree, the Sweet Tsai Lychee, growing it from seeds during a period of 30 years. Our family, composed of several scientists, became fascinated by Dr. Tsai’s love and care for his grove, and the beautiful outcome of his work creating a unique new fruit out of existing varieties. These healthy lychee trees, fully adapted to the local ecosystem, are now happily growing in the tropical sun of South Florida.

The lychee trees are grown in a careful balanced ecosystem. When leaves, twigs and small pruned branches fall to the ground they are left in place to form a natural mulch which has been enriching the local soil for 30 years. Tree roots get water directly from the rain or from the subsurface aquifer, so no irrigation is needed. Local ant colonies are given shelter in the tree trunk of old palm trees and in retribution these little insects take care of pests, aphids or bugs that could damage the trees, therefore no pesticides are needed or used in the grove. Vines and lower canopy plant coverage are left in place to protect the soil, give shelter to insects, small lizards, and a whole host of living creatures that thrive and protect the grove.

Since 2018, our family has decided to continue Dr. Tsai’s work, following very closely his guidance and suggestions to properly take care of the grove. Our mission is to carry on his legacy by producing an excellent quality, fresh, seasonal Sweet Tsai lychee, and having this delicious fruit available locally as well as across the nation.

We are proud of our excellent relationships with local growers, fruit producers, Broward County Extension Service, and the Florida Farm Bureau.
Our vision is to have future generations in South Florida enjoy, learn, and appreciate farming and the successful local cultivation of fruit trees without chemicals and the use of a balanced ecosystem of plants and animals to obtain the same fantastic results we are today getting in our grove.