In the heat of midmorning, many people gathered outside a farm in San Joaquin Valley for free nectarines from large blue bins. The offer came from farmer Cesar Mora, who preferred to share the fruit, instead of letting it spoil.

Mora, embracing his wife Yuliana before starting work, is giving away over 125,000 pounds of nectarines from his Central Valley family farm. He has faced a contract conflict with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co. concerning the handling of his nectarine crop. Both parties have legal claims related to a contract that covers the marketing and sale of the fruit. Unable to sell, Mora chose to distribute more than 100,000 pounds of nectarines.

The event took place near Reedley from Monday to Friday. Many attendees arrived in groups, bringing bags to collect the nectarines. Mora has over 30 years of farming experience in Central Valley, having learned about stone fruit farming as a child and nurturing a desire to own a farm. Financial difficulties led him to rent a ranch a decade ago.

On 50 rented acres, Mora cultivates three plum varieties, alongside peaches and nectarines. The Monalise nectarines, involved in the dispute, represent about 15% of his farm. In response to Mora’s initiative, Giumarra Bros. Fruit Co. stated that the issue involves two written agreements and is being handled through legal channels.

On the first day of the giveaway, Mora’s team initially set out 5,000 pounds of nectarines. The turnout prompted them to distribute more, providing fruit in 30-pound bags. By day’s end, they had given away over 20,000 pounds. The next day saw 50,000 pounds distributed, followed by 55,000 the following day. Christian Mora, assisting at his father’s farm, was part of the distribution effort amidst the ongoing legal battle.

By Friday afternoon, 182,000 pounds of nectarines had been given away. The enthusiastic response from visitors was a pleasant surprise for Mora. Some even blocked the street while visiting the farm in groups. Unaccustomed to appreciative gestures in his line of work, Mora found the applause he received while driving his tractor deeply moving.

At the end of each day, some people ventured into the orchard to pick up discarded fruits. This initiative underscored the community’s appreciation and Mora’s dedication to ensuring the fruit was not wasted.