WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that George Finch and John D. Honeycutt were both responsibly connected with Third Coast Produce Company Ltd., a Houston, Texas-based company that had been previously cited for failure to pay for produce.
Finch and Honeycutt had appealed their responsibly connected status to the USDA Judicial Officer and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, both of which upheld USDA’s determination, according to a press release.
Consequently, Finch and Honeycutt may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee until October 2, 2016, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Both men also cannot be licensed in the produce industry until October 2, 2017, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In late February 2012, the USDA filed action against Third Coast Produce Company Ltd. for failure to make full payment promptly to 21 sellers for 207 lots of produce in the total amount of $514,943.40 under the PACA. The produce was purchased during February 2010 through July 2010. The company was allowed to reapply for a PACA license on June 5, 2014.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. The Agricultural Marketing Service, PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
