<p>Pacific Coast Produce & Distributors Inc., Santa Cruz Fresh Produce Inc., and Isadore A. Rapasadi & Sons Inc. have all been restricted from operating in the produce industry for failing to pay reparation awards under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Pacific Coast Produce & Distributors Inc., doing business as R & R Produce, has failed to pay a $26,210 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Chester J. Frangipani was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Santa Cruz Fresh Produce Inc. has failed to pay an $8,662 award in favor of a Texas seller. Jose L. Ordonez Lopez 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"> Isadore A. Rapasadi & Sons Inc. has failed to pay a $10,156 award in favor of a New York seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Robert S. Rapasadi was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business. Other principals of the business at the time of the order were Natalie A. Rapasadi and Kathleen A. Rapasadi. They have challenged their responsibly connected status.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In the past three years, USDA has resolved approximately 5,000 claims filed under the PACA involving almost $96 million. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanction on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it and subsequently impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.<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=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5105110&dID=190894&wf=false&description=USDA+Restricts+Three+PACA+Violators+in+California+and+New+York+from+Operating+in+the+Produce+Industry&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNav1=&rightNav2=target="_new"> Agricultural Marketing Service </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
