California farmer and food marketer spar over who can sell white nectarines

Key Points:

• Cesar Mora, a third-generation farmer in California’s Central Valley, is giving away over 100,000 pounds of white nectarines for free amid a legal battle with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co., which claims exclusive rights to the fruit variety he grows.
• The dispute centers on the "Monalise" white nectarine variety, with Giumarra asserting sublicensing rights granted by Star Fruits Diffusion, while Mora accuses the company of unfair business practices and breach of contract.
• Mora signed agreements with Giumarra in 2017 and 2019 but later sold his fruit to another packer after alleging contract violations by Giumarra, prompting the company to sue him for breach of contract; a trial is scheduled for later this month.
• The case highlights broader tensions between farmers and companies holding exclusive rights or patents on fruit varieties, as fruit patents and licensing agreements become more common in agriculture.
• Despite the legal challenges causing Mora to lose significant income and discouraging his farming efforts, he finds solace in sharing his fruit with the community and hopes the case will lead to better protections for growers.