Options for bad neta revay fruit
Question
With great excitement we recently picked some mandarins (tangerines) from our tree, hoping to taste the fruit at last with the reviis bracha.
Unfortunately, they were very dry and not pleasant at all to taste.
There are many left on the tree.
Is it alright to just let them fall and put them in the trash?
On an agricultural note…do you, by any chance, have a remedy for this problem please?
We have noted that the branches bearing the fruit now have very yellow leaves, whereas the rest of the branches, not bearing fruit, are happily green.
Answer
1. Your fruits have neta revay holiness. You may pick them and perform pidyon onto a coin, then throw them into the trash as regular fruit.
2. Alternatively, you can let them fall, collect them into a bag (since they are holy), and then dispose without performing the pidyon.
If you are a member of Beit Haotzar, we take care of the coin for you.
I'm so sorry to hear that the fruit is dry and not tasty, after all those years of waiting. In terms of the issue with the yellow leaves; our agronomist, Dr. Motty Shomron, said that you should begin taking regular care of your tree now – making sure it receives enough water and fertilizer, and G-d willing, next year, hopefully there will be an improvement in both fruit and leaves (but there's not much to do about this year's batch).