The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against Northeast Tomato Distributors Inc. (Northeast) for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The company, operating from Pennsylvania, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to five produce sellers for $219,173 from August 2022 through November 2022.
Northeast will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
Source:usda.gov