WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

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

• Coram Deo Farms Inc., operating out of Tubac, Arizona, for failing to pay a $73,600 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order Adrian L. Pryor were listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business. Another principal of the business at the time of the order was Oscar A. Lopez. He has challenged his responsibly connected status.
• Vermex Produce LLC, operating out of McAllen, Texas, for failing to pay a $7,350 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, David Villarreal, Maria G. Villarreal, Catalina Villarreal, and Arturo Villarreal, Jr. were listed as members of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may 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 principals 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.

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 3,400 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,500 callers with issues valued at approximately $151 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service