WASHINGTON, DC - Four produce businesses have had sanctions imposed on them by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards amounting to $247,000 under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Sanctions against the companies include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

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

• Directo Produce Sourcing, operating out of Stratford, Connecticut, for failing to pay a $17,115 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Kelvin Pena was listed as the manager and member of the business

• Nico Mexi Foods, operating out of Chicago, Illinois, for failing to pay a $108,243 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Nicolas Ibarra was listed as the sole officer, director, and stockholder of the business

• Raz Trading, operating out of Staten Island, New York, for failing to pay a $55,446 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Kevin Razzoli was listed as the manager and member of the business

• Golden Global USA, operating out of Las Vegas, Nevada, for failing to pay a $66,554 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Duke Park was listed as the sole officer, director, and 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.

To read the release in its entirety, click here.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service