Nadine Wilkins (202)720-8998Nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
--Pryslak Growers Inc., operating out of Great Meadows, N.J., for failing to pay a $35,166.00 reparation award in favor of a Canadian seller. The responsibly connected officer, director, and major stockholder is Dennis E. Pryslak.
--Sweet Ones Inc., operating out of Wayland, Mich., for failing to pay a $4,657.75 reparation award in favor of a Texas seller. The responsibly connected officers, directors, and major stockholders are Alice Haaksma and Elmer Haaksma.
--V and L Custom Cut Produce Inc., operating out of Miami, Fla., for failing to pay a $24,314.00 award in favor of a Florida seller. The responsibly connected officers, directors, and major stockholders are Alan Tuquero, Brenda Tuquero, and Guillermo E. Villasin.
PACA provides for an administrative forum to handle disputes over produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. The USDA is required to suspend the license of a 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, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.