WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that Stephen Press, Sharon Press, and Francis Manzo are not responsibly connected to Farmer Jacks Produce LLC, operating out of Middlesex, New Jersey. This is an update to a previous citation.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Farmer Jacks Produce LLC violated the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay a reparation award in the amount of $11,031 in March 2021. As a result, USDA imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

USDA made an initial determination that Nasser Nasser, Helen G. Mejia, Stephen Press, Sharon Press, and Francis Manzo were responsibly connected to Farmer Jacks Produce LLC and subject to sanctions. Stephen Press, Sharon Press, and Francis Manzo contested this initial determination, and USDA has now determined that they were not responsibly connected to Farmer Jacks Produce LLC at the time of the violation.

As a result, Stephen Press, Sharon Press, and Francis Manzo may be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

For more information, and to read the press release in its entirety, click here.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service