WASHINGTON, DC - Under regulations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Rigby Produce Inc., operating out of Rigby, Idaho, posted a $100,000 surety bond.

According to a press release, the surety bond was posted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to employ Alan Taylor, previously named in a PACA action.

Alan Taylor was the manager of Taylor Produce LLC, Rigby, Idaho, a company which failed to pay a reparation award issued against it under the PACA.

Any PACA licensee wishing to employ individuals who have failed to pay a reparation award, or have been subject to a USDA disciplinary action, must post a USDA approved surety bond.

USDA will hold the $100,000 bond for four years, providing assurance to the industry that the company will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct its business according to PACArules.

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

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,400 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,500 callers with issues valued at approximately $151 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service