WASHINGTON, DC - Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it has reversed its previous decision and determined that Thomas D’Agostino is not one of the responsibly connected members of Organic Harvest LLC (Organic Harvest), Miami, Florida, and has released an update to its Press Release No: 034-20.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Organic Harvest violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award totaling $12,089 in favor of a Florida seller. As a result, USDA imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

USDA made an initial determination that Thomas D’Agostino was responsibly connected to Organic Harvest and subject to sanction. Thomas D’Agostino contested this initial determination and USDA has now determined that Thomas D’Agostino was not responsibly connected to Organic Harvest at the time of the violation.

As a result, Thomas D’Agostino may be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

The PACA Division, which is a part of AMS’ Fair Trade Practices Program, 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. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For further information, contacts, and to read the press release in its entirety, please click the link here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service