WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under PACA.

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

• Dinuba, CA-based Green Tree International Inc., for failure to pay a $31,711 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Cary D. Crum was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
• Faribault, MN-based Hunt Potato Co. Inc., for failure to pay a $14,421 award in favor of a Wisconsin seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Mark E. Hunt and Gordon P. Hunt were listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
• Northridge, CA-based Sevan Bakery Inc., for failure to pay a $4,998 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Hovsep Avakian, Shant H. Avakian, and Armenag H. Avakian were listed as the Officers, Directors, and/or major stockholders 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 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. USDA experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

Agricultural Marketing Service