Release No.: 161-14

Contact:

Nadine Wilkins (202) 720-8998

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Florida European Export Import Co. Inc., of Miami, Fla., for failure to pay for produce.

The company failed to pay $383,991 to nine sellers for 139 lots of produce. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Florida European Export Import Co. Inc. cannot operate in the produce industry until June 2, 2016, at which time it may reapply for a PACA license. The company’s principals at the time of the violation are now deceased.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. USDA is authorized to suspend or revoke a company’s license for violations of PACA. All oversight of actions related to PACA are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims filed under PACA involving more than $87 million. This is just one more way USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For further information, contact Josephine E. Jenkins, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, by fax at (202) 720-8868, or by email at InvestigativeEnforcement@ams.usda.gov.