WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four 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:
Tejada’s Produce Corp.
Operating out of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, for failing to pay a $19,538 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Lilliam Rivera and Wilfredo T. Tejada were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
Ayotlan Produce LLC
Operating out of San Antonio, TX, for failing to pay a $19,821 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Antonio Flores Cervantes was listed as a member of the business.
B &V Solutions LLC
Operating out of Edinburg, TX, for failing to pay a $37,500 award in favor of a Louisiana seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alejandro Badillo Jr. and Ramon Valencia were listed as members of the business.
Gourmet Home Food Inc.
Operating out of Dallas, TX, for failing to pay a $21,908 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Srikanth Kandalam was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.
The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
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 USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
