USDA Restricts PACA Violators in Alabama, California, Florida, New York, Texas, New Jersey and Utah from Operating in the Produce Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on nine 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 from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

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

• Bama Tomato Co., Inc., operating out of Birmingham, Ala., for failing to pay a $45,250 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Christopher Griffin was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
• Esau Alvarenga, doing business as J and E Produce, operating out of Los Angeles, Calif., for failing to pay a $15,120 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Esau Alvarenga Perla was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• Price International Trading LLC, operating out of Doral, Fla., for failing to pay a $121,681 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Ivan Delgado was listed as the manager of the business.  
• J D B Market Corp., doing business as John’s Market, operating out of Bronx, N.Y., for failing to pay a $42,180 award in favor of a New York seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, John D. Burdo was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
• New Nature Farm Supermarket, Inc., operating out of Little Neck, N.Y., for failing to pay a $155,105 award in favor of a New York seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Zhi Xin Hao was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
• JD Produce Maspeth LLC, operating out of Maspeth, N.Y., for failing to pay a $56,562 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Shengbo Dong was listed as the member/manager of the business.