USDA restricts PACA violators in three states

The USDA has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce  they purchased and for failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, according to a news release.

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.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Mos Can Everything Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, for failing to pay a $23,580 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jaime Ortega was listed as the sole officer, director and stockholder of the business.
• Produce For Less LLC, operating out of Dearborn, Mich., for failing to pay a $21,386 award in favor of a Michigan seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Hassan Mroue was listed as the sole member of the business.
• PH Quality Produce LLC, operating out of Pharr, Texas, for failing to pay a $265,888 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Wade Paden was listed as the sole member of the business.
• Quinteros Fruit Company LLC, operating out of McAllen, Texas, for failing to pay a $6,955 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Serafin Quintero Posadas and Edgar Quintero Garcia were listed as the  member/managers of the business.

For more information, contact Penny Robinson-Landrigan, chief for the Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or PACAdispute@usda.gov.