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USDA Cites Supreme Cuts LLC in New Jersey for PACA Violations

USDA/AMS Press Release:

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Supreme Cuts LLC of Mahwah, N.J., for violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Supreme Cuts LLC violated PACA by its failure to pay17 produce sellers $385,683 for 75 lots it purchased from April 2011 through January 2014. Supreme Cuts LLC contested the allegations.

To settle the complaint, USDA and Supreme Cuts LLC have entered into a consent decision in which Supreme Cuts LLC agrees to the finding of willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA and the publication of the facts and circumstances. This finding and revocation will be held in abeyance, as long as, within 90 days from Dec. 9, 2014, Supreme Cuts pays the produce sellers as listed in the complaint in full. In addition, Supreme Cuts must pay a civil penalty in the amount of $75,000 within 180 days from Dec. 9, 2014.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. USDA is authorized to suspend or revoke a company’s license for violations of PACA. All PACA oversight actions are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. Our experts also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $11 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For further information, contact Josephine E. Jenkins, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, by fax at (202) 720-8868, or by email at InvestigativeEnforcement@ams.usda.gov.

Release No.: 243-14

Contact: Nadine Wilkins, (202) 720-8998, nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov

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USDA/AMS Press Release:

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Supreme Cuts LLC of Mahwah, N.J., for violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Supreme Cuts LLC violated PACA by its failure to pay17 produce sellers $385,683 for 75 lots it purchased from April 2011 through January 2014. Supreme Cuts LLC contested the allegations.

To settle the complaint, USDA and Supreme Cuts LLC have entered into a consent decision in which Supreme Cuts LLC agrees to the finding of willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA and the publication of the facts and circumstances. This finding and revocation will be held in abeyance, as long as, within 90 days from Dec. 9, 2014, Supreme Cuts pays the produce sellers as listed in the complaint in full. In addition, Supreme Cuts must pay a civil penalty in the amount of $75,000 within 180 days from Dec. 9, 2014.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. USDA is authorized to suspend or revoke a company’s license for violations of PACA. All PACA oversight actions are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. Our experts also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $11 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For further information, contact Josephine E. Jenkins, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, by fax at (202) 720-8868, or by email at InvestigativeEnforcement@ams.usda.gov.

Release No.: 243-14

Contact: Nadine Wilkins, (202) 720-8998, nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov

Twitter