USDA/AMS Press Release – Penick Produce Company Inc., operating out of Vardaman, Miss., has posted a $75,000 cash surety bond with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The company posted the bond to obtain a license to operate in the produce industry.
Under the regulations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), the company was required to post the bond following its prior involvement in bankruptcy.
USDA will hold the bond for three years, providing assurance to the industry that the company will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct business according to PACA rules.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, 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 3,400 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,500 callers with issues valued at approximately $151 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contact Travis Hubbs, 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.: 079-18
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