WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two 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:

• Denver, Colorado-based Angel Chavez, doing business as Pena’s Produce, for failure to pay a $40,173 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Angel Chavez was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• Brooklyn, New York-based Fresh Growers Direct, for failure to pay a $31,604 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Yusufov Yuval was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.

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.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service