WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Five Star Produce Central Alabama LLC, operating out of Birmingham, Ala., for failing to pay a $750 award in favor of an Alabama seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Donald P. Hinkle was listed as the manager and member of the business.
• Mr. Felix Produce Sales LLC, operating out of Rio Rico, Ariz., for failing to pay a $9,996 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Uriel Felix Sr., was listed as the member and manager of the business.
• Anusaya Fresh United States LLC, operating out of City of Industry, Calif., for failing to pay an $18,689 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Dinesh Shinde was listed as the member and manager of the business.
• La Mera Buena Produce Inc., operating out of Saint Paul, Minn., for failing to pay a $44,629 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Ramiro Hernandez Marquez was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. 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.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

For more information, contact Penny Robinson-Landrigan, Chief, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or [email protected].