<p> Three PACA violators in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina have been restricted by the USDA from operating in the produce industry, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> <B>JD Rodriguez Produce Inc.</b>, a Dallas, Texas-based company, has failed to pay a $29,069 award in favor of a Texas seller. Johnny D. Rodriguez, Valerie J. Rodriguez, and Esmeralda G. Rodriguez were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business. The company had recently had its PACA reparation sanctions lifted in January 2014, but has now been barred again.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> <B>Valley Wide Produce Inc.</b>, a Phoenix, Arizona-based company, has failed to pay a $31,836 award in favor of a California seller. Kenneth J. Hurley and Barbara L. Hurley were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> <B>K & B Produce Inc.</b>, a Sanford, North Carolina-based company, has failed to pay a $15,000 award in favor of a Texas seller. Byron E. Ramirez 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, the USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims under the PACA involving more than $87 million. 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 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">
