A California farmer has started giving away roughly 125,000 pounds of nectarines for free after being sued for selling his produce.
Cesar Mora has been working the land of the Central Valley for decades as a third-generation farmer. For the past three years, Mora has been in a legal battle with one of the largest produce companies in the country, which has prevented him from selling his nectarine crop, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Instead of watching his harvest rot for the second consecutive year, Mora decided to give away his nectarines.
“Not to lose my entire year’s hard work, I’m going to give it out to the Central Valley and whoever would like to take any of it,” Mora said in a video on his “No Nextarines Wasted” TikTok page.
Mora’s started opening his Reedley orchard Monday to locals looking for some fresh, free fruit.
In a TikTok video posted Tuesday, a large crowd of people of all ages could be seen picking nectarines through massive produce bins.
“I don’t think food should go to waste, especially if it’s nice and ripe and just because of a lawsuit,” Alejandra Madrid, who collected free nectarines at the orchard Tuesday, told ABC30 News.
Mora’s attorneys say about 2,000 to 3,000 people have shown up at the orchard for free fruit so far, the outlet reported.
“Last year all of it ended up on the ground,” Mora told KMPH of his 2025 harvest. “Walking through here…every step I would take, I’d hear a piece of fruit drop on the ground. Just hear ‘thump, thump.’ It was just really, really frustrating.”
In 2017, Mora entered a contract with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co. to grow a special variety of white-flesh nectarines called the Monalise, according to the Fresno Bee.
Giumarra later sued Mora, claiming he breached their contract by withholding his fruit and sending it to another company.
“I followed all their process and did my part, delivered great fruit to them. But I was never able to get a return or make any money, really, I was farming at a cost, at a loss, at just their benefit,” Mora told ABC30 News.
Mora argued in a cross-complaint that Guimarra engaged in unfair business practices, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty, the Fresno Bee reported.
In a statement shared with local media, Guimarra said it “remains committed to serving our growers with integrity, honoring our contractual obligations, and safeguarding the proprietary programs that provide value to our grower partners.
“Litigation involving Mr. Mora remains ongoing and we will provide additional comment as appropriate.”
The Independent has reached out to Guimarra and representatives for Mora for comment.
The case is scheduled to go to trial on July 20, according to ABC30 News.
For now, people, some driving two hours away, are showing up to support Mora and collect some free nectarines.
“We drove all the way from Bakersfield just to make sure to come and get some,” Gina Ramirez told KMPH.
