WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found Lewis Macleod as a responsibly connected principal to Huxtable’s Kitchen Inc. (Huxtable’s), in Vernon, California. Due to violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), USDA has imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval. This is an update to Press Release No: 044-20 issued on February 26, 2020, and 150-19 issued on November 6, 2019.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Huxtable’s violated section 2(4) of the PACA by failing to pay $551,829 to six sellers for produce purchased, received, and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from October 2015 to May 2016.

Lewis Macleod has been held responsibly connected to Huxtable’s at the time of the violation. As a result, he may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until February 2, 2022, and then only with the posting of a USDA approved surety bond.

The PACA Division, which is a part of AMS’ Fair Trade Practices Program, 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