WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reportedly imposed sanctions on three separate produce business 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:

• Do Produce Inc., operating out of Wantagh, New York, for failing to pay a $34,856 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, the release states that Pantelis Splinis was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
• Gardunos Fruit & Produce Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, California, for failing to pay a $3,950 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Victor A. Garduno was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
• Portola Farm and Food Distributors Inc., operating out of Tustin, California, for failing to pay a $20,966 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jaime S. Ortega was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. All oversight of actions related to PACA are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. The USDA’s experts also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million, according to the release. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

Agricultural Marketing Service