WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against Florida-based company Florida Cool Cargo Inc. for alleged Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) violations. The company allegedly failed to pay five produce sellers in the amount of $115,806 from May 2019 through July 2019.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Florida Cool Cargo 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.

For further information, contact Corey Elliott, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].

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.

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

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service