The U.S. Department has cited Frutera Del Litoral USA LLC, Miami, for failing to pay for almost $700,000 of produce.
The company failed to pay five suppliers $698,992 for produce from September 2015 to March 2016, according to the USDA, which is a violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, according to a USDA notice.
Frutera Del Litoral USA is banned from operating in the produce industry until Nov. 2, 2020, after it applies for and receives a PACA license from the USDA.
Company principals Francisco Dabike Armstrong, Diana Carolina Lascano Lozada and Carlos Mauricio Rueda Mesias may not be employed by or affiliated with a PACA licensee until Nov. 2, 2019, after posting USDA-approved surety bonds, according to the USDA notice.
