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:

• Jonathan Mendez, doing business as 3 Mendez Produce, operating out of South Gate, Calif., for failing to pay a $2,580 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jonathan Mendez was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• JLP Farms Wholesale Retail Produce Transportation LLC, operating out of Tifton, Ga., for failing to pay a $165,302 award in favor of a New Jersey seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, John L. Pettiford, Diane M. Royster and Anthony D. White were listed as the members of the business.
• Global Connection VA LLC, operating out of Dallas, Texas, for failing to pay a $101,533 award in favor of a Washington seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jose Luis Aguero and Alberto Vazquez were listed as the members of the business.
• De La Cruz Produce, operating out of Gillette, Wyo., for failing to pay a $2,419 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Francisco De La Cruz was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder 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 PACAincluding 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.  These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.