Release No.: 215-14

Contact:

Nadine Wilkins (202) 720-8998

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Amersino Marketing Group LLC and Southeast Produce Limited USA, of Maspeth, N.Y., for failure to pay for produce.

The companies failed to pay a combined $429,031 to at least four sellers for produce which was purchased, received, and accepted in interstate commerce from December 2008 through August 2010. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Amersino Marketing Group LLC and Southeast Produce Limited USA cannot operate in the produce industry until June 18, 2016, at which time they may reapply for a PACA license.

The company’s principals, Yuqing Wang and Winnie Wang, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until June 18, 2015, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. 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.

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.