The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Utopia Produce Inc., operating out of Glendale, NY, for failing to pay a $41,400 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Li Zhi Wang was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.
• Peacock Produce LLC, operating out of Naples, FL, for failing to pay a $26,959 award in favor of a Virginia seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Marcel Basso was listed as manager and/or member of the business.
• Mario Tenuta, operating out of Chicago, for failing to pay a $15,540 award in favor of a Michigan seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Tenuta was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• Haikeem A. Nelson, operating out of Breingsville, PA, for failing to pay a $14,662 award in favor of an Illinois seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Nelson was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• COOQ Merchants & Consulting Inc., operating out of Miami, for failing to pay an $11,305 award in favor of a Florida seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alejandro Badilla was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business.

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.