A California farmer is giving away tons of nectarines that he’s not allowed to sell

Cesar Mora is letting thousands of people line up for free nectarines at his orchard in Reedley, California, saying he’d rather share the fruit than watch it rot. He has given away more than 100,000 pounds (about 45,359 kilograms) since Monday, calling it a way to avoid waste while he fights a court battle over the crop.

Mora says he’s trapped in a legal fight with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co., which claims it has exclusive rights to the white nectarine variety he grows. Mora says the dispute began after the company sued him in 2023, alleging he violated a contract by selling the nectarines to other packers. Mora, meanwhile, accuses the company of unfair and fraudulent business practices.

At the center of the case is a white nectarine known as “Monalise,” which has a sweeter, less tart taste than other varieties. Giumarra says the rights to Monalise belong to a French plant-breeding company, Star Fruits Diffusion, and that Giumarra holds the ability to sublicense the variety for testing, production, and sale—while Mora says he has the right to grow and distribute the fruit.

Mora’s situation highlights tensions between growers and companies that develop new plant varieties and seek exclusive marketing rights. In Mora’s case, the contract fight has affected his ability to sell, leaving him with a harvest he cannot move through normal channels while a trial is scheduled for later in the month. The company disputes Mora’s claims, and in a statement says the dispute is being resolved properly through court and the evidence.