WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
Fresh Choice LLC
Operating out of Miami, Florida, for failing to pay a $24,120 award in favor of a Tennessee seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alejandro R. Hernandez was listed as a member of the business.
Family Budget Supermarket 2 Inc.
Operating out of Pompano Beach, Florida, for failing to pay a $10,834 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Dicarlo Pujols and Jose A. Pujols were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
AP Royal Produce Inc.
Operating out of Brooklyn, New York, for failing to pay a $54,120 award in favor of a Washington seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Aleksandr Yakubov was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Its experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
