Thousands of tourists visited Cesar Mora’s farm in central California this week to collect free nectarines as he faces legal challenges from Jumara Brothers Fruit Company, which claims exclusive rights to the white nectarine variety he grows. Mora has distributed over 100,000 pounds of nectarines, choosing to share the fruit rather than let it rot.
The dispute highlights tensions between farmers and companies seeking control over new plant varieties. Mora, a third-generation farmer in Reedley, is embroiled in a lawsuit stemming from a 2017 sublicense agreement with Jumara, which obligates him to sell through them. He alleges unfair practices, including that Jumara discarded half of his produce in 2020.
Mora’s case centers on “Monalise,” a sweet white nectarine variety. Jumara claims ownership rights via a company in France, while Mora contends that Jumara misrepresented their contractual obligations. As legal proceedings are set to continue, Mora, whose income has significantly dropped due to the lawsuit, hopes to see better protections for farmers.
At a recent event, local supporters wore T-shirts that read “Don’t waste nectarines” as they helped gather the free fruit. Mora has raised over $17,000 through GoFundMe to support his situation. He expressed that sharing his fruit brings him some solace amid the difficulties.
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