USDA clears individuals in Organic Fruit Markets PACA case
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has determined that Eloiza Nunez Ramirez, Jose A. Ramirez, Antonio Benitez, Tomasa Rivera Granados, Raul Martinez, Omar P. Polito and Alverto Rivera are not responsibly connected to Organic Fruit Markets LLC, Oroville, Wash.
This is an update to Press Release No: 153-20 issued on Sept 24, 2020.
Organic Fruit Markets LLC violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award in the amount of $19,231 in September 2020. As a result, USDA imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
USDA made an initial determination that Eloiza Nunez Ramirez, Jose A. Ramirez, Antonio Benitez, Tomasa Rivera Granados, Raul Martinez, Omar P. Polito and Alverto Rivera were responsibly connected to Organic Fruit Markets LLC and subject to sanction. These individuals contested this initial determination and USDA has now determined that they were not responsibly connected to Organic Fruit Markets LLC at the time of the violation.
As a result, Eloiza Nunez Ramirez, Jose A. Ramirez, Antonio Benitez, Tomasa Rivera Granados, Raul Martinez, Omar P. Polito and Alverto Rivera may be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
For further information, contact Corey Elliott, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or PACAInvestigations@usda.gov.
