<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Washington D.C.-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">1.18.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>USDA cited Los Angeles based Prime Tropical Inc. for failure to pay $825,808.09 to 18 sellers for 150 lots of produce in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). Prime Tropical is prohibited from operating in the industry until Nov.6, 2014, at which time it may reapply for a PACA license. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/body-image.jpg" alt="Images 011813" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Company principals, Julio Chan, Maria Chan, Vincent Ramirez Jr., and Yolanda Ramirez may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Nov. 6, 2013 at which point the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond is required.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Individuals held responsible for PACA violations may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Agricultural Marketing Service regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA. The USDA is authorized to suspend of revoke a company’s license for violations. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/" target="_new">USDA</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
