USDA sanctions companies for failing to pay PACA awards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is restricting nine businesses from operating in the produce industry for failing to repay debts as ordered through the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The companies, according to a USDA news release, are:

• Academy Fruit Company LLC, Clovis, Calif., for not paying $104,195 to a California seller. Jayson Paul Scarborough was listed a member or manager of the business.
• Chefd Inc., El Segundo, Calif., for not paying $91,439 to a New York seller. Emily Waldorf, Peter Boyes, Lawrence Perkins and Jason Ackerman were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
• OKA Group LLC, Doral, Fla., for not paying $44,526 to a Florida seller. Yesmin Rodriguez was listed a member/manager of the business.
• Countryland Farms LLC, Nashville, Ga., for not paying $4,075 to a Texas seller. Gary Barfield was listed a member or manager of the business.
• Golden Horse LLC, Secaucus, N.J., for not paying $6,910 to an Illinois seller. Oi Cheng and Kong Cheng were listed a members or managers of the business.
• MLC Berries Inc., Los Angeles, for not paying $39,099 to an Oregon seller. Miguel Campos was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.
• Nile Food Importing Corp., Brooklyn, N.Y., for not paying $5,600 to a California seller. Mohamed Elsehetry was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.
• Old West Export Inc., Visalia, Calif., for not paying $187,393 to a California seller. Frances Murillo and Dave Muse were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
• Peerless Enterprises Inc., Gainesville, Fla., for not paying $6,440 to a Florida seller. Eric Pleiman was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.