The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Penny Tsigaris, doing business as Manavi Produce (Tsigaris dba Manavi) in Oceanside, NY, for failing to pay $385,021 to three sellers for produce that was purchased, received and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from February 2015 to January 2016.  This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. 

As a result of these actions, Manavi cannot operate in the produce industry until Sept. 24, 2020, and then only after they apply for and are issued a new PACA license by USDA.

The company’s principal, Tsigaris, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Sept. 24, 2019, and then only with the posting of a USDA approved surety bond.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,350 PACA claims involving more than $63 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $156 million.