NewsNBC Bay Area — CaliforniaJuly 3, 2026United States
California farmer gives away nectarines amid legal battle over growing rights
A Central Valley farmer is giving away his nectarine harvest for free after a legal dispute with a fruit marketing company prevented him from selling the fruit commercially. The conflict centers on contractual obligations and exclusive rights to a specific nectarine variety known as 'Monalise'.
Read the full story at NBC Bay Area — CaliforniaWhy It Matters
The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how farmers interact with plant breeders and marketers regarding exclusive crop varieties and royalty agreements.
Key Facts
- Cesar Mora is currently prohibited from selling his 'Monalise' nectarine harvest due to an ongoing lawsuit with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co.
- Mora has distributed over 100,000 pounds (45,359 kg) of nectarines for free to the public.
- The legal dispute involves a 2017 sublicensing agreement and a 2019 marketing agreement between Mora and Giumarra.
- Under the agreements, Mora was required to pay a $2.50 royalty per tree and a 4% production royalty on gross sales.
- Giumarra claims exclusive rights to the Monalise variety, which they state are owned by Star Fruits Diffusion.
- Judge Jon Skiles ruled in May that the breach of contract lawsuit can proceed regardless of whether a formal patent exists for the fruit.
- Mora alleges Giumarra violated their contract by selling fruit to Taiwan in 2022 and failing to properly market his produce in 2020.
- Mora has lost approximately 25% of his annual income due to the inability to sell his nectarine crop.
- A trial for the breach of contract case is scheduled for later this month.
- Mora has raised over $17,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to support his legal costs.
Who's Mentioned
organizationGiumarra Brothers Fruit Co.“Company suing Cesar Mora for breach of contract regarding nectarine distribution”other51,800“Square kilometers of California's Central Valley.”personBradley Rickard“Professor of food and agricultural economics at Cornell University.”other20,000“Square miles of California's Central Valley.”personCesar Mora“Farmer in Reedley, California, currently in a legal dispute over nectarine sales”organizationStar Fruits Diffusion“French company that reportedly owns rights to the Monalise nectarine variety.”personJon Skiles“Fresno County Superior Court Judge overseeing the case.”