WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Florida Fresh Tropicals LLC, Miami, FL, for failure to pay for produce.

According to a press release, the company failed to pay $392,127 to seven sellers for 58 lots of produce. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Florida Fresh Tropicals LLC cannot operate in the produce industry until September 15, 2018, at which time it may reapply for a PACA license.

The company’s principal, Jesse J. Fernandez, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until September 15, 2017, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

The USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.

In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service