USDA/AMS Press Release:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Taylor Produce LLC in Rigby, Idaho, for failure to pay for produce.
The company failed to pay $3,943,926 to 5 sellers for 605,492 net hundredweight of potatoes which was purchased, received, and accepted in interstate commerce from June 2013 through December 2013. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Taylor Produce LLC cannot operate in the produce industry until Oct. 30, 2017, at which time they may reapply for a PACA license.
The company’s principals, Alan L. Taylor and Alan Taylor Produce, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Oct. 30, 2016, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
Under PACA provisions, those individuals held responsibly connected to PACA violations including sole proprietors, partners, members, officers, directors, and stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
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 oversight of actions related to PACA are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 claims PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Our experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contact Josephine E. Jenkins, Acting Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, by fax at (202) 720-8868, or by email at InvestigativeEnforcement@ams.usda.gov.
Contact Info: Nadine Wilkins, nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov, 202-720-1103
Release No.: 150-15
