The USDA has filed an administrative complaint against American Fruit & Produce Corp. for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.
The company, operating from Florida, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 18 produce sellers in the amount of $1.034 million from March 2018 through October 2022, according to a news release.
American Fruit & Produce Corp. will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond, the release said.
For more information, contact Corey Elliott, chief for the Investigative Enforcement Branch, at 202-720-6873 or PACAInvestigations@usda.gov.
