Pacific Rim Onion Inc. Cited for PACA Violations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Pacific Rim Onion Inc. for failure to pay for produce. The company failed to pay $340,687 to two sellers for 67 lots of produce. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Pacific Rim Onion Inc. cannot operate in the produce industry until May 24, 2015, at which time it may reapply for a PACA license.
The company’s sole principal, Michael B. Aker, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until May 24, 2014, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 5,000 claims filed under PACA involving $96 million. This is just one more way USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
