The USDA has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.
These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA, according to a news release.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Stonehedge Produce Corp., operating out of Atlanta, Ga., for failing to pay a $35,960 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Charles Jones was listed as the sole officer, director and stockholder of the business.
- Bills Imported Foods, operating out of Minneapolis, Minn., for failing to pay a $500 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Kiki Tirokomos was listed as the sole officer, director and stockholder of the business.
- Rabab Awad, doing business as Awad International Trade, operating out of Chester, N.Y., for failing to pay a $8,213 award in favor of a Washington seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Rabab Awad was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
For more information, contact PACA, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890, or PACAdispute@usda.gov.
