USDA Cites Sergio Felipe Produce and Big Bear Storage and Packing for PACA Violations


Thu. December 12th, 2013 - by Christofer Oberst

<p> Two PACA violators in Florida have been restricted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture from operating in the produce industry.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Sergio Felipe Produce Corp., operating out of Miami, FL, has failed to pay a $5,983 award in favor of a Texas seller. Pedro Gonzalez was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Big Bear Storage &amp; Packing Inc., operating out of Pompano Beach, FL, was barred for failing to pay a $147,818 award in favor of a Florida seller. Steven P. Weiss was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims filed under PACA involving more than $87 million, according to a press release. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.</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"> Agricultural Marketing Service </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">