AMS No. 228-12

Nadine Wilkins (202)720-8998

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited The Chuck Olsen Co. Inc., of Visalia, Calif., for violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

The Chuck Olsen Co. Inc., violated section 2(4) of the PACA by its failure or refusal to truly and correctly account and make full payments promptly in connection with transactions involving perishable agricultural commodities sold in interstate commerce. The Chuck Olsen Co. Inc., contested the allegations.

To settle the complaint, USDA and The Chuck Olsen Co. Inc., have entered into a consent decision. The consent decision and order states that the company’s license will be revoked for violating the PACA. However, the sanction will be held in abeyance as long as certain terms agreed to by USDA and The Chuck Olsen company, Inc., are satisfied. If the terms are not satisfied, the PACA license will be revoked and employment sanctions on those individuals held responsible will take effect immediately.

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

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 5,000 claims filed under the PACA involving almost $96 million. This is just one more way USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

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

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