USDA restricts PACA violators in Virginia, Florida and California
USDA restricts PACA violators in Virginia, Florida and California
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.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Evelyn Menjivar, doing business as Joan’s Food & Produce, operating out of Richmond, VA, for failing to pay a $30,176 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Menjivar was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
- Fresh Is Best Wholesale Produce Co. operating out of Plant City, FL, for failing to pay an $8,514 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Warren G. Jones was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business. Another principal of the business at the time of the order was Jeffrey T. Newsome. He has challenged his responsibly connected status.
- Global Foods International operating out of Irvine, CA, for failing to pay a $6,072 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Sivoush Nayyeri was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder 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.
