The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on nine produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from the USDA.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Fernando Acevedo, Jr., doing business as La Familia Produce of Nogales, Arizona for failing to pay a $310,518 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Acevedo, Jr. was listed as the sole proprietor.
- Arturo Hernandez doing business as The Avo King of Camarillo, California for failing to pay a $41,525 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Hernandez was listed as the sole proprietor.
- Susan Gilbert doing business as Flagler Palm Coast Farmers Market of Ormond Beach, Florida for failing to pay a $43,501 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Gilbert was listed as the sole proprietor.
- Real Value Sales Inc. of Nogales, Arizona for failing to pay a $13,098 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eddie Valencia and Irene Valencia were listed as the officers, directors and major shareholders.
- Planters Produce Corp. of Port St. Lucie, Florida for failing to pay an $89,120 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Herman Oneal was listed as the sole officer, director and stockholder of the business.
- Fresh Produce Market of Brooklyn, New York for failing to pay a $19,378 award in favor of a New York seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Solomon Bondo was listed as the sole officer, director and stockholder.
- AAA American Select Produce LLC of Miami, Florida for failing to pay a $9,975 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Irka Diaz and Osmani O. Mursuli were listed as members and managers of the business.
- Always Fresco LLC of McAllen, Texas for failing to pay a $40,885 award in favor of a Minnesota seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Guadalupe Quintanilla, Jr., and Edgar Rios were listed as managers of the business.
- West Pacific Orchard LLC of San Antonio, Texas for failing to pay a $59,800 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jose Luis Ruiz was listed as the manager of the business.
Click here for an overview of companies that previously violated PACA.
For more information:
Penny Robinson-Landrigan
USDA
Tel: +1 (202) 720-2890
[email protected]
www.ams.usda.gov