WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that Frank Cione is not responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers, which is located in Chicago, Illinois. This is an update from a previous citation.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Lurie Brothers LLC violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award in the amount of $26,163 in December 2019. 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 Frank Cione was responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers LLC and subject to sanction. Frank Cione contested this initial determination and USDA has now determined that Frank Cione was not responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers LLC at the time of the violation.

As a result, Frank Cione may be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

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 3,625 PACA claims involving more than $104 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,600 callers with issues valued at approximately $166 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, click here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service