USDA restricts PACA violators in Florida, Maryland and Nebraska
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — FP & H, J.A. Blurr Farms and H&L Fresh 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:
- FP & H LLC, doing business as Fleischmanns Produce, operating out of Doral, FL, for failing to pay a $30,345 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jesus Menendez was listed as the sole member of the business.
- J.A. Blurr Farms LLC, operating out of Hurlock, MD, for failing to pay a $23,588 award in favor of an Arkansas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Shamar T. Hyatt was listed as the manager and member of the business.
- H&L Fresh Produce LLC, operating out of South Sioux City, NE, for failing to pay a $4,131 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Lusio Torres was listed as the manager of the business.
In the past three years, USDA handled more than 2,340 cases valued at $126.3 million. PACA staff also assisted over 5,600 callers with issues valued at $146.7 million.
