WASHINGTON, DC - The fourth in a recent string of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcements determines that Roberto Fantini Cardenas is not responsibly connected to Green Desert Produce operating out of Pharr, Texas. This is an update from a previous citation.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Green Desert violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award totaling $11,295 in favor of a Texas seller. As a result, USDA imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

USDA made an initial determination that Roberto Fantini Cardenas was responsibly connected to Green Desert and subject to sanction. Roberto Fantini Cardenas contested this initial determination and USDA has now determined that Roberto Fantini Cardenas was not responsibly connected to Green Desert at the time of the violation.

As a result, Roberto Fantini Cardenas may be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

The PACA Division, which is part of AMS’ Fair Trade Practices Program, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to the PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For more information and to read the press release in its entirety, please visit the link here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service