USDA Restricts PACA Violators in Florida, New Jersey and Texas from Operating in the Produce Industry

Date
Monday, September 23, 2024 - 2:00pm
Contact Info
Release No.
140-24

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). 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:

  • Mexia RB Produce LLC, operating out of Houston, Texas, for failing to pay a $27,409 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Roger Muartua Mejia was listed as the sole member of the business.
  • Three D Food Service Inc., operating out of Secaucus, N.J., for failing to pay a $25,465 award in favor of a New York seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Daniel Rojas Perez was listed as the sole officer, director and stockholder of the business.
  • Triple H Produce LLC, operating out of Pharr, Texas, for failing to pay a $27,987 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Heriberto Vlaminck Ley, Rosa Ley Lopez, Hugo Vlaminck Ley and Heriberto Vlaminck Seidel were listed as the members of the business.
  • Consorcio De La Cruz LLC, operating out of Miami, Fla., for failing to pay a $27,307 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Leonardo Radibelkys and Luz Maria De La Cruz were listed as the members of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. 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 Penny Robinson-Landrigan, Chief, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or PACAdispute@usda.gov.

The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices 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. In the past three years, USDA handled more than 2,340 cases valued at $126.3 million. PACA staff also assisted over 5,600 callers with issues valued at $146.7 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

#

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender