WASHINGTON, DC - Recently, we reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) determined Phillip L. Sandifer was responsibly connected to Sandifer Farms LLC, Blackville, South Carolina. As of October 23, the USDA has found Sandifer not responsibly connected. This is an update to Press Release No: 131-19 released on USDA's site on October 15, 2019.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Sandifer Farms, LLC, violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award totaling $172,156 in favor of a Florida 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 Phillip L. Sandifer was responsibly connected to Sandifer Farms LLC, and subject to sanction. Phillip L. Sandifer contested this initial determination and USDA has now determined that Phillip L. Sandifer was not responsibly connected to Sandifer Farms LLC, at the time of the violation.

As a result, Phillip L. Sandifer 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 3,500 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, contacts, and to read the full press release, please click here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service