USDA Files Action Against Olympic Wholesale Produce Inc. in Illinois for Alleged PACA Violations

Date
Friday, November 3, 2017 - 3:00pm

Release No.: 123-17

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) against Olympic Wholesale Produce Inc.

The company, operating from Illinois, allegedly failed to make payment to four produce sellers in the amount of $898,725 from December 2016 through May 2017.

Olympic Wholesale Produce Inc. will have an opportunity to request a hearing.  Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry for two years.  Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for one year and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 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.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million.  Our experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 million.  These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For further information, contact Travis M. Hubbs, Acting Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, or by email at PACAInvestigations@ams.usda.gov.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender