Washington, D.C., August 17, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has entered into a Consent Decision and Order with L Produce LLC, d/b/a Leonardo’s Produce of Detroit. The company, operating from Michigan, failed to make prompt payment to 13 produce sellers in the amount of $794,230 for produce that it purchased, received and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from November 2024 to February 2025, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
L Produce has been barred from operating in the produce industry until June 25, 2028, and then only after it applies for and is issued a new PACA license by USDA and posts a USDA-approved surety bond.
USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated and flagrant PACA violations and impose restrictions on those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval. By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
For more information, contact the Investigative Enforcement Branch at (202) 720-6873 or PACAInvestigations@usda.gov.
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The PACA Division, which is in the Specialty Crops Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.