Cancel OK

USDA Cites Felda Vegetable Farms Inc. in Florida for Failure to Pay for Produce and the Company Satisfies Terms of Consent Decision and Order

USDA/AMS Press Release:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited Felda Vegetable Farms Inc., Felda, Fla., in a consent decision and order dated Jan. 26, 2017, for failing to make full payment promptly in the total amount of $98,818 to five sellers for 29 lots of produce in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA and Felda Vegetable Farms Inc. entered into the consent decision and order finding that the company engaged in willful, repeated and flagrant violations of the PACA. However, because the company subsequently paid the unpaid produce sellers in full and paid a civil penalty in the amount of $15,500, the finding of violation was permanently abated without further process and the case was closed.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. 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.

The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Our experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 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, or by email at PACAInvestigations@ams.usda.gov.

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

Release No.: 064-17

For more PACA violations reported by Blue Book Services: #PACAViolations

Twitter

USDA/AMS Press Release:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited Felda Vegetable Farms Inc., Felda, Fla., in a consent decision and order dated Jan. 26, 2017, for failing to make full payment promptly in the total amount of $98,818 to five sellers for 29 lots of produce in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA and Felda Vegetable Farms Inc. entered into the consent decision and order finding that the company engaged in willful, repeated and flagrant violations of the PACA. However, because the company subsequently paid the unpaid produce sellers in full and paid a civil penalty in the amount of $15,500, the finding of violation was permanently abated without further process and the case was closed.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. 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.

The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Our experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 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, or by email at PACAInvestigations@ams.usda.gov.

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

Release No.: 064-17

For more PACA violations reported by Blue Book Services: #PACAViolations

Twitter