A third-generation farmer, Cesar Mora, based in Reedley, California, is offering thousands of visitors free nectarines from his farm as he battles a court case with Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co. over the exclusive rights to a particular white nectarine variety, Monalise. The legal dispute, scheduled for later this month, centers on Mora's alleged breach of contract and accusations of unfair business practices by Giumarra. Mora, who has shared over 100,000 pounds (45,359 kilograms) of nectarines since Monday, hopes to prevent waste while sharing his produce with the community. The Central Valley, an agricultural powerhouse producing 40% of the nation's fruits and nuts, is at the heart of this controversy, highlighting tensions between farmers and large industrial food marketers over new plant varieties and exclusive rights. The fight raises questions about the increasing prevalence of fruit patents, as well as the balance between innovation in plant breeding and fair business practices for farmers.