WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a recent USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Kelly Brothers Inc., operating out of Exeter, CA, for failing to pay an $18,803 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Christopher J. Kelly was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
- Khans International Trading Inc., operating out of Orlando, FL, for failing to pay a $14,363 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Ajia Khan and Fazlur Khan were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
- Delta Global Farms Logistics LLC, operating out of Greenwood, MS, for failing to pay a $7,728 award in favor of a South Carolina seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Joyce Nicosia was listed as a member of the business.
The USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as 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.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
