<p>The U.S.D.A. has filed an administrative action against Del Monte Farms (not affiliated with Del Monte Corporation or Del Monte Foods) under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) for alleged failure to pay $703,632 to 19 produce sellers from October 2011 through July 2012.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The New Jersey-based company will have an opportunity to request a hearing, but if the USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry for two years and its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for one year.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateA&navID=Home&topNav=Home&page=Home&acct=AMSPW" target="_new">AMS</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
