CALIFORNIA, US - After several days of calmer, drier weather, another Pacific system lines up to bring rain back into California just ahead of New Year’s celebrations.

The break has been important. Rivers and streams have had time to recede after a very active stretch earlier this month, when some areas picked up weeks’ worth of rain in just days. But that pause won’t last much longer. By midweek, moisture from the subtropical Pacific is expected to move north, spreading showers back across much of the state.

Ahead of the storm, moderate Santa Ana winds are expected across parts of Southern California, with gusts ranging from 40 to 60 miles per hour in canyons, passes, and along ridgelines. While recent rainfall has kept vegetation damp enough to limit fire concerns, wet soils combined with gusty winds could increase the chance of downed trees and localized power disruptions.

According to AccuWeather, rain is forecast to arrive during the afternoon and evening hours on New Year’s Eve across Southern and Central California, expanding northward overnight and into New Year’s Day. While widespread flooding is not expected, there are still a few areas to watch closely, particularly slopes that face south and west, where heavier showers could briefly renew concerns for runoff or debris movement.

Most waterways should be able to handle the incoming rain, but poor drainage areas could see ponding on roads, which may slow travel during one of the busiest holiday periods of the year. This could affect overnight transportation schedules and early-morning deliveries as the new year begins.

Snow levels will remain relatively high with this system, limiting major impacts at Southern California passes. In the Sierra Nevada, freezing levels will rise through Thursday, with only minor slushy conditions possible at the onset in higher elevations.

The timing means outdoor New Year’s Eve plans, and New Year’s Day events, may need weather contingencies, especially during evening and early morning hours. Conditions are expected to improve gradually as the system moves east late Thursday into Friday.

For updates, be sure to check ANUK.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and for failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the businesses’ principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

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

• Flava Fresh LLC, operating out of Miami, Fla., for failing to pay a $55,489 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Charles Andrew Sahadath was listed as the member/manager of the business.
• Cultimex Corp., operating out of McAllen, Texas, for failing to pay a $38,400 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Santiago Buendia Gutierrez was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
• Solstice Growers LLC, operating out of McAllen, Texas, for failing to pay a $5,857 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alberto Sevilla was listed as the manager of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. 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.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

For more information, contact Penny Robinson-Landrigan, Chief, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or [email protected].