WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Dallas, TX-based Farmers Fruit and Vegetable Company has satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). 

According to a USDA press release, Farmers Fruit and Vegetable Company has met the obligations required, and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Carlos G. Guillen and Edgar A. Rodriguez, who were listed as the Officers, Directors, and/or major stockholders of the business, may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

As we previously reported, Farmers Fruit And Vegetable Company was restricted for failing to pay a $36,745 award in favor of a Texas seller.

USDA is required to suspend the license of a business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it, as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.

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.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service