California farmers have been ordered to destroy millions of pounds of peaches and nectarines because they are slightly smaller than federal standards require and could undermine profits from larger fruit. Dan Gerawan, one of the largest peach, nectarine and plum growers, said he has sold undersized fruit to wholesalers who sell it to family-run stores in inner-city Los Angeles. But the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Attorney's office have threatened court action if he continues. "Consumers are prepared to spend more money for larger fruit than smaller fruit, so why undermine the higher profit margin for the grower?" Eric Forman of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service said in the AP report.

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