WASHINGTON - The USDA announced that Gregory Hall, doing business as Chicago, Illinois-based Virtue Cider, satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

As we previously reported, Virtue Cider failed to pay a $108,024 award in favor of a New Hampshire seller and was subsequently restricted from operating in the produce industry.

Now that the order reparation has been satisfied, the company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Gregory Hall was listed as the sole proprietor of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

The 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.

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. The Agricultural Marketing Service, PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.

Agricultural Marketing Service