WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed restrictions on two PACA violators in Illinois and California for failure to pay reparation awards, according to a USDA press release.

According to the release, the following individuals and businesses are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Gregory Hall, doing business as Virtue Cider, operating out of Chicago, Ill., for failing to pay a $108,024 award in favor of a New Hampshire seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Gregory Hall was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• Grana Trading Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, Calif., for failing to pay a $58,745 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Roberto Grana and Marina Valladares were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions which could result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principles determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. 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, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.