It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Reedley Historical Clock in Reedley, CA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Reedley, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“My family has been fortunate to have Always Best Care provide care for my elderly mother for approximately two years. My mother is in her late 80s and not an easy person to deal with at times. Subsequent to her hospitalization and release, we coordinated with Always Best Care for caregiver, Chelsea to come into her home every week to assist my mother with her daily life, chores, etc. Chelsea has literally been a gift from God to us. I honestly don’t know what we would do without the professional help of Chelsea. She handled my mother’s many needs and moods with a very delicate and compassionate touch. She is simply the best. I cannot recommend her professional qualities and services highly enough. Please feel free to contact me should you require any additional information. Thank you very much.”
“Love the information the office provide and how wonderful the office looked. Chelsea provide me with enough information.”
“I am writing in regards to my husband’s caregiver, Angeles. We appreciate her so much. When she first started caring for my husband, he was not sure he liked her and would call me to send her home. She worked really hard to try to work with him as he can be stubborn and angry at times. Over time they have developed a real bond. She is attentive and wherever he is, she is right behind him. When I get home from work , my husband is always in a good mood and I’m very appreciative of the relationship Angeles have built with my husband and the care she has provided him. Also, Angeles went above and beyond the tasks assigned to her and I have nothing but praise for all the Caregivers that Always Best Care Senior Services have.”
“My mother was under the care of Always Best Care from 2018 until her untimely passing in 2022. She had a number of physical disabilities and the staff from Always Best Care provided quality care in assisting with her hygienic needs, attending to light housekeeping, food preparation and providing transportation to and from medical appointments. My mother always felt well cared for by the staff of Always Best Care. When my mother passed away in mid-December 2022, the staff at Always Best Care recognized the emotionally vulnerable position of my 87 year old Father and decided to continue assigning a compassionate Caregiver for him. Their ability to recognize the importance of this continuum of care is greatly appreciated by our family. Ultimately, our family has been very satisfied and pleased with the service that Always Best Care has provided to both our parents. They have demonstrated sincere concern, care and compassion when it comes to our parents’ physical and emotional care and we would recommend their services to anyone.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting C.F. Mueller Park in Reedley, CA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Bear Club LLC Restaurant or visit Old Caretaker House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Reedley, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Reedley, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Reedley, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Reedley farmer giving away free nectarines during a legal dispute has been closed down for the day on Tuesday after overwhelming support by the community.Cesar Mora informed FOX26 on Tuesday morning that they were closed for "safety reasons" after a large amount of people and vehicles arrived at the farm.Mora recently opened his orchard to the public after saying an ongoing legal dispute left him unable to sell roughly 125,000 pounds of white nectarines this year.[RELA...
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Reedley farmer giving away free nectarines during a legal dispute has been closed down for the day on Tuesday after overwhelming support by the community.
Cesar Mora informed FOX26 on Tuesday morning that they were closed for "safety reasons" after a large amount of people and vehicles arrived at the farm.
Mora recently opened his orchard to the public after saying an ongoing legal dispute left him unable to sell roughly 125,000 pounds of white nectarines this year.
[RELATED] BioSafe Systems seeks permits for vacant warehouse in Reedley
Instead of watching another harvest go to waste, he invited anyone willing to pick the fruit to take it home for free.
According to CHP, their officers responded due to major traffic congestion due to the large crowds and vehicles.
Due to the overwhelming crowds, the farmer requested CHP to close access for safety reasons.
Cesar says they will be back open on Wednesday and invites people to come by.
CHP sent FOX26 the following statement about the closure:
The California Highway Patrol did not organize, direct, or shut down the fruit giveaway in Reedley.
CHP responded to the area solely because of the significant traffic congestion and parking concerns created by the large number of vehicles attending the event. Our role was to provide a visible law enforcement presence and help promote traffic safety.
CHP did not issue citations or remove vehicles related to the event.
When traffic volumes became overwhelming, the property owner requested that access to the entrance be temporarily restricted due to safety concerns. CHP assisted by maintaining a visible presence at the entrance at the property owner’s request. Any decision to stop or limit access to the giveaway was made by the property owner, not the California Highway Patrol.
Reedley farmer’s free nectarine giveaway draws huge crowds, continues despite push to stop. (Photo: FOX26 News Reporter Mayra Franco)REEDLEY, Calif. (FOX26) — We told you Monday about a Reedley farmer giving away free nectarines after he said an ongoing legal battle has prevented him from selling his crop.The giveaway drew such a large turnout Tuesday that it was temporarily shut down for safety reasons. The California Highway Patrol responded to help manage heavy traffic and parking as crowds poured into the orchar...
Reedley farmer’s free nectarine giveaway draws huge crowds, continues despite push to stop. (Photo: FOX26 News Reporter Mayra Franco)
REEDLEY, Calif. (FOX26) — We told you Monday about a Reedley farmer giving away free nectarines after he said an ongoing legal battle has prevented him from selling his crop.
The giveaway drew such a large turnout Tuesday that it was temporarily shut down for safety reasons. The California Highway Patrol responded to help manage heavy traffic and parking as crowds poured into the orchards.
FOX26 News reporter Mayra Franco returned Wednesday as the giveaway resumed for another day, where even after 10 a.m., people were still arriving to line up for fruit.
For Cesar Mora, what should be a profitable harvest has instead turned into a financial loss, due to the ongoing legal battle.
“But the year-after-year loss of this has been the burden,” Mora said. “We’re going to make it through. My family’s supporting me. My mom’s the one feeding me these days.”
Still, Mora says he chose to open his orchard to the public rather than let the fruit go to waste.
“I was just trying to do what I felt was right and not waste food, not waste fruit,” he said. “It’s obvious that people enjoyed it because they’re out here lining up for it, even waiting an hour to get it.”
Mora says the response has been overwhelming.
His son, Christian Mora, said people began arriving hours before staff arrived.
“It was amazing to see,” he said.
He also said some visitors even offered to help.
John and Roseanne, who traveled from Caruthers, said they wanted to help financially, but Mora refused cash donations.
“It’s a nice thing what they’re doing,” they said. “Too bad that they’re going through what they’re going through.”
Others, like Maria Lisa Salazar of Easton, said the effort means a lot and is grateful that Cesar would rather bless the community than let the produce go to waste.
“I think it would be nice just to have a tip jar, but I understand where he’s coming from,” she said.
But Mora says the generosity is now facing pushback.
“I have... cease and desist letters trying to shut this down and insisting that I let the fruit rot on the tree,” Mora said. “Honestly, I’m not okay with that. I don’t understand their purpose behind it.”
Despite that, he says he plans to continue the giveaways as long as possible.
“They’re really giving me support, blessings,” Mora said. “I had people praying out here for me.”
A GoFundMe has been created to help cover Mora’s legal expenses.
He says the legal costs of fighting a large agricultural company are overwhelming and would take years to recover from, especially after the losses, he’s already endured.
If you would like to donate, you can click here to get redirected to the page.
REEDLEY, Calif. -- A California farmer is being sued for trying to sell his nectarines, so instead, he's giving them away for free.Already this week, thousands of people have shown up to third-generation farmer Cesar Mora's small orchard in Reedley, California, bright and early to collect buckets full of free nectarines.It comes after Mora posted several videos on social media, explaining why he's giving away the crop."These are my white flesh nectarines that I've been growing for the last 10 years. I should be pick...
REEDLEY, Calif. -- A California farmer is being sued for trying to sell his nectarines, so instead, he's giving them away for free.
Already this week, thousands of people have shown up to third-generation farmer Cesar Mora's small orchard in Reedley, California, bright and early to collect buckets full of free nectarines.
It comes after Mora posted several videos on social media, explaining why he's giving away the crop.
"These are my white flesh nectarines that I've been growing for the last 10 years. I should be picking them right now, but I'm not, all due to a giant ag corporation who has been preventing me from doing anything with this crop," Mora said in a video he posted to his Instagram account '@NoNectarinesWasted,' which had over 866,000 views as of Tuesday afternoon.
That corporation is the Giumarra Brothers Fruit Company, a leading supplier of fresh produce based in Los Angeles.
Nearly three years ago, the company sued Mora for allegedly breaking their contract when he stopped sending his fruit to them and sent it to another company instead.
A legal complaint filed by Giumarra's attorneys states Mora was granted rights to grow and sell the Monalise White Nectarine Variety when he signed an agreement with them in 2017.
In a cross-complaint, Mora and his attorneys argued that Giumarra engaged in unfair business practices.
"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," said Mora during an interview with Action News.
That's when Mora says he decided to market the nectarines elsewhere.
But before long, Giumarra began sending him cease and desist letters, and he says when he tried to go back to the company, they rejected him.
"They left me no other option than to leave it on the tree and to let it rot away," Mora said.
Instead of allowing another season to pass with a wasted harvest, Mora decided this year to give away more than 125,000 pounds of fruit for free.
So far, Mora's attorneys estimate between 2,000 to 3,000 people have come to pick the nectarines.
Many of them say they don't want to see them rotting on the ground another year.
"I don't think food should go to waste, especially if it's nice and ripe and just because of a lawsuit. It's unfortunate that happened last year," said Alejandra Madrid, who showed up to Mora's orchard for fruit Tuesday morning.
A Fresno-based attorney representing Giumarra sent a statement to Action News, which reads:
"Giumarra Bros. Fruit Co. 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 legal case is set to go to trial on July 20.
Mora says he will continue giving away nectarines until they are all gone at his orchard located at 21500 E Parlier Ave in Reedley.
KVPR editor's note: This story was updated on Monday, July 6, 2026, to edit time references.Thousands of visitor flocked to Cesar Mora's farm just outside Reedley during the first week of July to gather free nectarines.He was giving his harvest away rather than watching it rot as he's locked in a legal battle with a company that claims exclusive rights over the variety of white nectarine he grows. He's shared more than 100,000 pounds (45,359 kilograms) since last Monday. By the end of the week, the giveaway had been cut ...
KVPR editor's note: This story was updated on Monday, July 6, 2026, to edit time references.
Thousands of visitor flocked to Cesar Mora's farm just outside Reedley during the first week of July to gather free nectarines.
He was giving his harvest away rather than watching it rot as he's locked in a legal battle with a company that claims exclusive rights over the variety of white nectarine he grows. He's shared more than 100,000 pounds (45,359 kilograms) since last Monday. By the end of the week, the giveaway had been cut short after an overwhelming response by residents and for safety reasons, but the farmer vowed to continue the giveaway.
“It was really just a thought of not wasting a perfectly good product,” Mora said. “It does make a grower feel good, being able to share my fruit with people and see their immediate reaction that they love it. It’s a little bit of good in this tough situation that I’ve been dealing with.”
The legal dispute highlights the tension that can emerge between farmers and the plant breeders and large industrial food marketers that create new varieties of plants and obtain the exclusive rights to sell them.
Since 2023, the third-generation farmer in the agricultural community of Reedley in California's Central Valley has been fighting a lawsuit filed against him by Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co. The suit centers on the company’s claims of exclusivity over a variety of white nectarine and accusations that Mora broke their contract by selling the fruit to other packers. A trial has been scheduled for later this month.
“At its heart, this is a disagreement involving two written agreements, and it is being resolved the right way — in court and on the facts,” the company said in a statement emailed by one of its attorneys.
Mora has accused the company of unfair and fraudulent business practices.
The fight centers on a white nectarine variety known as “Monalise,” which has a sweeter, less tart taste.
In its court filings, Giumarra says all rights to the Monalise variety are owned by Star Fruits Diffusion, a French company that works with plant breeding programs, while Giumarra holds the right to sublicense the variety for testing, production and sale. Star Fruits Diffusion did not respond to a request for comment.
Plant breeders, including universities, have long experimented with breeding new crop varieties, and some have become household names. Washington State University developed the Rainier cherry in the 1950s, while the University of Minnesota released the Honeycrisp apple in the 1990s. Both varieties are now in the public domain and can be grown and sold by anyone.
Fruit patents are becoming increasingly common, said Bradley Rickard, professor of food and agricultural economics at Cornell University. A patent allows a breeder to collect a royalty from the fruit trees it sells, the fruit that the trees produce, or both.
In 2010, more than a dozen apple growers sued the University of Minnesota for awarding exclusive rights to its SweeTango apple to an orchard that organized a cooperative of growers to market the variety. A settlement maintained the university's license agreement with the cooperative while also allowing more Minnesota orchards to lease the trees that bear the apple variety.
California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines.
Court filings show Mora signed a sublicensing agreement with Giumarra in 2017 allowing him to grow and sell the Monalise. He entered a marketing agreement in 2019 requiring the fruit to be packed and sold through Giumarra. He said Giumarra recruited him to grow it.
Under the agreements, Mora was to pay Giumarra a royalty of $2.50 per tree and a 4% production royalty based off the gross sales of the fruit the trees produced, as well as a sales commission.
“They sold me hope and a big dream that I thought I could participate in with them," he said.
Mora alleges that up to half of the nectarines he provided to Giumarra in 2020 were thrown away, reducing his profits. The company disputes this, and the judge overseeing the case found that the statute of limitations for those claims had passed.
In 2022, Mora alleges the company sold his nectarines to Taiwan in violation of the contract, which states Giumarra will market and sell them in the U.S. and Canada. Giumarra also disputes that claim.
Mora later sought to terminate his relationship with Giumarra, and he sold his nectarines to another fruit packer in 2023. That's when Giumarra sued him for breach of contract, leading to his inability to sell the fruit at all while the court battle plays out.
Mora’s attorneys say Giumarra has not provided documents regarding its license to the nectarine variety. The company said in court filings the Monalise is not covered by a U.S. plant patent. Mora’s attorneys claim in court filings that “Giumarra promised and represented that the Nectarines were an ‘exclusive variety’ of fruit, and thus Giumarra held patents and related legal rights over these nectarines,” and that because it was exclusive, the fruit “would be sold for top dollar.”
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jon Skiles in May ruled that Giumarra's breach of contract claim can go forward, saying that the agreement between Giumarra and Mora is valid whether there is a patent for the fruit or not.
“The sublicense agreement does not expressly state that its validity is dependent on the existence or issuance of a patent for the fruit,” he wrote.
He added that Giumarra “does not have to prove the existence of the underlying license agreement in order to prove that it has a valid contract with defendant regarding growing and selling the fruit."
Mora said the yearslong litigation has left him feeling frustrated and defenseless. He also grows peaches and plums that are not subject to agreements with Giumarra, but he has lost a quarter of his income by not being able to sell his nectarine crop. Mora says he hopes his case results in more legal protections for growers, while Giumarra says it will let the evidence speak at trial.
“It's been discouraging to even want to go out and farm,” he said.
On Wednesday, locals wore T-shirts that read “No Nectarines Wasted” as they bagged up the free fruit, with some staying to help Mora serve the large crowds. He's raised more than $17,000 through a GoFundMe page.
“The only saving grace through all this is being able to share it with the public,” Mora said of his nectarines, “and having everybody enjoy it."
The KVPR Newsroom contributed to this reporting.
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