The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four 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:

• Weng Farms Inc., operating out of Garden City, GA, for failing to pay an $84,897 award in favor of an Oregon seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Liya Weng was listed as the officer, director and stockholder of the business.
• JW Produce Inc., operating out of Watsonville, CA, for failing to pay a $27,223 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Veronica Martinez Vazquez was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
• So Fresh Wholesale Corp., operating out of Weston, FL, for failing to pay a $4,472 award in favor of a Florida seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Mitchel G. Brandfon and Robert Vesco were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
• Listo Produce Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, for failing to pay a $1,484 award in favor of a California seller.  As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Pedro L. Astorga was listed as the officer, director and 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.