WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Phoenix, Arizona-based Sun Produce Specialties LLC, has complied with the terms of a consent decision and order finding that the company violated section 8(b) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and revoking the company’s PACA license for unlawful employment of Ricardo B. Bombella, an individual under PACA employment restrictions. 

According to a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division press release, the finding and revocation were held in abeyance so long as the company paid a civil penalty of $20,000 by no later than July 29, 2016. The company has subsequently paid the civil penalty in full along with the finding and license revocation were permanently abated and the case was closed.

The AMS, PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. 

During the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. 

USDA AMS