WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

According to a USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• United Fresh Produce, operating out of Riverside, California, for failing to pay a $32,043 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Regina E. Erickson and Barbara J. Jamili were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
• Victor Packing Fruit & Produce Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, California, for failing to pay a $25,427 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Victor Ortiz was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
• J & R Fresh Produce LLC, operating out of Tampa, Florida, for failing to pay a $45,101 award in favor of a Virginia seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Shaheed Ackbar was listed as a member of the business.
• 999 LLC, operating out of St. Paul, Minnesota, for failing to pay a $4,511 award in favor of a Minnesota seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Joua Thao was listed as a member of the business.

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. Its experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 million.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service