As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed an administrative complaint against First Fruits Holdings LLC, doing business as Four Rivers Onion Packing. The company, operating from Idaho, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to five produce sellers in the amount of $1.172 million from November 2016 through July 2018.

First Fruits Holdings LLC, doing business as Four Rivers Onion Packing, will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million.