<p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three California-based produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards under the PACA.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Benchmark Distributing Inc., out of Castroville, CA, has failed to pay a $17,108 award in favor of a California seller. Chris L. Thomas was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business as of the issuance date of the reparation order.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Edgar Barajas, doing business as Premier Fresh out of Whittier, CA, has failed to pay a $208,328 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Edgar Barajas was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> And finally, Cesar Lopez, doing business as RCS Lopez Mango Imp., operating out of Chula Vista, CA, has failed to pay a $19,890 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Cesar Lopez was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 5,000 claims filed under PACA involving almost $96 million, according to a press release. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by 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"><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"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
