Legal Definitions - natural fruit

The term natural fruit refers to products that grow from the land either spontaneously, without human cultivation, or as perennial growths that produce year after year from existing plants. In a legal context, these growths are often considered part of the real estate itself until they are severed or harvested. This concept distinguishes them from "industrial fruits" (known as fructus industriales), which are annual crops requiring significant human effort to plant and cultivate each season, and are generally considered personal property even before harvest.

• Example 1: Wild Timber and Vegetation

  A large, undeveloped parcel of land features several mature pine trees and a dense undergrowth of wild ferns and moss. These trees, ferns, and moss are considered natural fruit of the land because they grow spontaneously without requiring annual planting or significant human intervention. If the land were sold, these natural growths would typically be included as part of the real estate unless specifically excluded in the sale agreement.

• Example 2: Perennial Orchard Crops

  A property owner has an established apple orchard where the trees have been growing for decades, producing apples annually. While the apples themselves are harvested each year, the apple trees themselves are considered natural fruit in the sense that they are perennial and grow from the land year after year without needing to be replanted each season. This contrasts with annual crops like corn or soybeans, which are typically classified as industrial fruits.

• Example 3: Uncultivated Wild Resources

  During a hike on their property, a landowner discovers a patch of wild blueberries and a variety of native wildflowers growing naturally in a meadow. These blueberries and wildflowers fall under the category of natural fruit because they are products of the earth that grow without deliberate human planting or cultivation. They are an inherent part of the land's natural ecosystem.