USDA restricts PACA violators in California and Nevada

The USDA has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses in California and Nevada related to violations of Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The businesses were penalized for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under PACA, according to a news release.

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 release said.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• J & A Fresh Produce LLC, operating out of Stockton, Calif., for failing to pay a $39,842 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jesus Cabanillas was listed as the sole member of the business.
• Golden Blues Inc., operating out of Marina Del Rey, Calif., for failing to pay a $36,000 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Marta O. Uffelmann Ledezma was listed as the CEO, director and stockholder of the business.
• Fresh Excellence LLC, operating out of Las Vegas, for failing to pay a $135,893 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eliseo Trujillo was listed as the sole member of the business.

For more information, contact PACA, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or PACAdispute@usda.gov.

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Source: The Packer

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