WASHINGTON, DC - Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it had filed an administrative complaint against Sarasota, Florida-based Central Market of FL II. The complaint alleges that the business violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) after allegedly failing to promptly pay eight produce sellers a total of $150,383 between November 2019 and May 2020.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Central Market of FL II Inc. will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

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.

To read the release in its entirety, click here.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service