Legal Dispute Prompts Free Nectarine Giveaway

Thousands have visited Cesar Mora’s farm in central California for free nectarines. Mora is giving away his harvest rather than letting it rot due to a legal battle over the rights to a white nectarine variety he grows. Mora has shared more than 100,000 pounds of nectarines since the start of the week.

“I wanted to avoid wasting good produce,” Mora said. “Sharing my fruit and seeing people’s reactions is rewarding, even in this difficult situation.”

Legal Tensions in Agriculture

This legal dispute highlights issues between farmers and companies that breed and market new plant varieties. Since 2023, Mora, a third-generation farmer from Reedley, California, has faced a lawsuit from Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co. The suit claims exclusivity over a white nectarine variety and accuses Mora of breaching their contract by selling to other packers. A trial is set for later this month.

This disagreement involves two written agreements being resolved in court based on facts, the company stated through its attorney.

Mora has accused the company of unfair business practices. On July 1, 2026, he stood next to nectarines ready for a free giveaway due to the ongoing dispute.

Commonality of Fruit Patents

The conflict involves the Monalise nectarine, known for its sweetness. Giumarra claims rights to sublicense the Monalise variety, which Star Fruits Diffusion owns. Star Fruits Diffusion did not comment.

Universities and breeders have created well-known plant varieties. For example, the Rainier cherry and Honeycrisp apple were developed by universities and are now public domain.

According to Bradley Rickard, a professor at Cornell University, fruit patents are now more common. A patent allows breeders to collect royalties from tree sales and fruit production.

In 2010, apple growers sued the University of Minnesota over exclusive rights to their SweeTango apple. The settlement allowed licensing to Minnesota orchards while maintaining the original agreement.

Central Valley Fruit Dispute

The legal battle in California’s Central Valley involves a key agricultural area producing much of the nation’s fruits and nuts. Court filings show Mora’s agreement with Giumarra allowed him to grow and sell the Monalise variety. A marketing agreement required him to pack and sell the fruit through Giumarra.

Mora agreed to pay royalties to Giumarra per tree and on production sales. Mora claims that in 2020, Giumarra discarded half of his nectarines, a claim the company disputes. The judge ruled this claim outside the statute of limitations.

Mora alleges that in 2022 Giumarra violated their contract by selling nectarines in Taiwan. Mora later sought to end his relationship with Giumarra and sold his nectarines to another packer. Giumarra sued him for breach of contract, impeding his ability to sell.

Mora’s attorneys argue Giumarra has not shown documents for the nectarine variety’s license. The company stated the Monalise is not under a U.S. plant patent.

Despite there being no patent, the sublicense agreement is valid, Judge Jon Skiles ruled.

Effects of the Legal Battle

The litigation has caused frustration and financial loss for Mora. He also grows peaches and plums, not under Giumarra agreements, but he lost a quarter of his income without selling nectarines.

“It’s discouraging to farm,” Mora said. On the giveaway day, locals donned “No Nectarines Wasted” shirts as they bagged nectarines for distribution. Mora raised over $17,000 on GoFundMe.

“Sharing with the public is the silver lining, seeing them enjoy the nectarines,” Mora said.