USDA issues PACA violations against five produce distributors

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet their contractual obligations to the sellers of produce that they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the 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:

• Triple Fresh Produce, operating out of Nogales, Arizona, failed to pay a $5,130 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Adam Polan, and Manny Dinis were listed as partners of the business. Another principal of the business at the time of the order was Enrique “KiKi” Heredia. He has challenged his responsibly connected status.
• Bain Distributors, operating out of Santa Fe Spring, California, failed to pay a $30,647 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alfred Lares was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.
• Ultra Fresh, operating out of Westwood, New Jersey, failed to pay a $61,319 award in favor of a Minnesota seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, William Hidalgo was listed as a member of the business.
• Fresh International, operating out of Nashville, Tennessee, failed to pay a $12,468 award in favor of a Missouri seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jaquelina Lopez, Manuel Arroyo and Dulce Nieto were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
• Spring Creek Produce, operating out of Greenfield, Tennessee, failed to pay a $2,080 award in favor of a Minnesota seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bobby Callins, Steven Willis Jr., Phil Gordon and Chris Gordon were listed as members of the business.

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