<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Washington D.C.-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">2.5.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The USDA announced that the America Growers Association LLC has satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Vernon, California-based company is permitted to continue operating in the produce industry once they apply for, and are issued, a PACA license. Albert Huang, a member of the business, may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">PACA provides a forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions and outstanding payments. This may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The USDA is required to impose sanctions on a business that fails to pay PACA reparations as well as impose restrictions against principals held responsible. Those principals held responsibly connected to the business when an order is issued may not be employed by or affiliated with a PACA licensee without USDA-approval.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals.<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/" target="_new">Agricultural Marketing Service</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
