The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on seven produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased, and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
These are:
- Avocados R Us Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif., for failing to pay $11,880 award in favor of a California seller. Uriel Arellano was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder.
Atlantic Arasu Inc., Duluth, Ga., for failing to pay $46,455 in favor of a North Carolina seller. Michael M. Arasu was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder. - Four S Inc. (M and R Produce Distributors) of Swedesboro, N.J., for failing to pay $11,370 in favor of a North Carolina seller. Bruce M. Schumin was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder.
- Shefa Appetizing Inc., Congers, N.Y., for failing to pay $45,480 in favor of a New York seller. Aron Kohn was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder.
- Orchard Sweet Produce Inc., Dinuba, Calif., for failing to pay $68,009 in favor of a California seller. Francisco J. Sanchez was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder.
- Ingles Produce Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., for failing to pay $145,879 in favor of a Georgia seller. Kareem A. Ingleton was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder.
- Green Explosion Inc., Miami, Fla., for failing to pay $7,359 in favor of a Florida seller. Libia C. Gomez was listed as the officer/director/major stockholder.
© USDA
Also, in a Jan. 15, 2025 complaint, USDA alleged that Roberson Onion Corp., (Roberson Produce) of Hazlehurst, Ga., failed to make full payment promptly of $889,309.48, to 12 sellers for multiple lots of produce, in violation of PACA.
USDA and Roberson Produce entered into a Consent Decision and Order finding that Roberson Produce committed repeated/flagrant PACA violations by failing to pay $457,171.80 to multiple produce sellers. The Consent Decision and Order took effect on Aug. 15, 2025.
Steve Roberson, the company's sole shareholder and principal, may not be employed by/affiliated with any PACA licensee until Aug. 15, 2026, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In a March 6, 2024 complaint, USDA alleged that Atlantic Frozen Foods LLC, Whitehall, Pa., failed to make full payment promptly of $1,176,084.39 to six sellers for multiple lots of produce, in violation of PACA.
USDA and Atlantic Frozen Foods entered into a Consent Decision and Order in which the company agreed to pay the unpaid produce sellers listed in Appendix A to the Complaint and a civil penalty of $25,000. Atlantic Frozen Foods has satisfied the terms of the Consent Decision and Order.
For more information:
Penny Robinson-Landrigan (PACA violations)
USDA
Tel.: +1 (202) 720-2890
[email protected]
Peter Scarabelli
USDA
Tel: +1 (202) 720-6873
[email protected].
www.ams.usda.gov
