USDA imposes sanctions on three PACA violators
USDA imposes sanctions on three PACA violators
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: New Farm Inc., Watermelons Inc., doing business as All Sweet Watermelons, and Farmers Fruit & Vegetable Co.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Watermelons Inc., doing business as All Sweet Watermelons, operating out of Howell, NJ, failed to pay a $143,560 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Charles F. Pagano was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
- New Farm Inc., operating out of Brooklyn, NY, failed to pay a $45,614 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jong Hwa H. Kim was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
- Farmers Fruit & Vegetable Co., operating out of Dallas, failed to pay a $36,745 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Carlos G. Guillen and Edgar A. Rodriguez were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million.