WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that American Hydroponics Inc. has satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

According to a recent USDA release, the Hopkinton, MA, company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Jeffrey H. Barton and Phillip J. Todaro were listed as the Officers, Directors, and/or Major Stockholders of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals. USDA also requires any unlicensed company that fully satisfies all unpaid reparation awards to obtain a license if it continues to operate in the 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.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service