The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to pay reparation awards issued through the Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act.
According to a news release from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, these businesses are currently banned from operating in the industry:
- Phillips Produce LLC, Plant City, Fla., for failing to pay a $133,094 award in favor a Minnesota seller. Christopher Phillips was listed as a member of the business, as of the day the order was issued.
- Peisel Markets LLC, Madison, N.J., for failing to pay $315,901 award to a California seller. Allen Peisel was listed as a member of the business when the reparation order was issued.
- G&M Import Produce LLC, Bronx, N.Y., for failing to pay $36,448 to a Florida seller. Gil A. Fernandez was listed as a member of the business when USDA issued the order.
- Integrity Produce LLC, Tieton, Wash., for failing to pay $3,729 award in favor of a Washington seller. Ninita A Denton and Carl A. Denton were listed as members of the business when the USDA issued the reparation order.
Under PACA rules, individuals responsibly connected to a business when an order is issued may not be employed or affiliated with a PACA licensee without USDA approval, according to the release.
