USDA restricts PACA violators in California, Illinois and Texas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — Cadence Gourmet, San Isidro Fresh Produce and First Quality Produce — 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.
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 USDA.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Cadence Gourmet LLC, doing business as Cadence Kitchen, operating out of Corona, CA, for failing to pay a $56,609 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Brian & Tina Wynn Community Property Trust, Brian Wynn Family Trust, Alexander Klein and Brian J. Wynn were listed as managers and members of the business.
- San Isidro Fresh Produce Inc., operating out of Chicago, for failing to pay a $29,680 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Emmanuel Garcia was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
- First Quality Produce LLC, operating out of McAllen, TX, for failing to pay a $7,200 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Oscar Manuel Corral Vega and Elizabeth Vega Trujillo were listed as managers and members of the business.
By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
In the past three years, USDA has handled over 2,340 PACA cases valued at $126.3 million. PACA staff also assisted over 5,600 callers with issues valued at approximately $146.7 million.
