The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Farmers Best of NYC Inc., operating out of Brooklyn, NY, for failure to pay for produce.

The company failed to pay $610,685 to 11 sellers for produce that was purchased, received and accepted in interstate commerce from February 2016 through October 2016.  This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.  As a result of these actions, Farmers Best of NYC Inc. is prohibited from operating in the produce industry until Dec. 18, 2020, and then only after it applies for and is issued a new PACA license by USDA.

The company’s principal, Eran Evenaim, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Dec. 18, 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.