WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed an administrative complaint against Fresh Crop Dist., Agritrade Farms, Sunbelt Produce Distributors, and ARR for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). Collectively, the four companies failed to pay a total of $128,399.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Fresh Crop Dist., operating out of Plant City, Florida, for failing to pay a $16,280 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Justin Daye was listed as the sole officer, director, and stockholder of the business
• Agritrade Farms, operating out of Deerfield, Florida, for failing to pay a $2,985 award in favor of a Georgia seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Ayal Raz was listed as the sole member of the business
• Sunbelt Produce Distributors, operating out of Forest Park, Georgia, for failing to pay a $85,303 award in favor of a Wisconsin seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bernard Syme was listed as the sole officer, director, and stockholder of the business
• ARR, operating out of Nashville, Tennessee, for failing to pay a $23,831 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Carlos Arrendondo was listed as the sole member of the business

For contact information, and to read the release in its entirety, click here.