WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses in California, Florida, and Utah for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- R.C. Harvest Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay a $15,953 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Richard Meaglia and Michael Rambeau were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
- Old Fashion Honey Corp., doing business as U.S. Food Logistics, operating out of Delray Beach, FL, for failing to pay a $350,718 award in favor of a Chilean seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Agustin Salinas was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
- Halfmoon Farms LLC, operating out of Salt Lake City, Utah, for failing to pay an $8,066 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bradley D. Andrus, Kevin D. Gulledge, Thomas E. Stewart, Janet S. Workman, and Jeffrey A. Zappitello were listed as members of the business.
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 have 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.
