WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative action against Vincent Giuffrida and Blue Chip Companies LLC. The complaint alleges Blue Chip Companies LLC failed to comply with the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by employing Vincent Giuffrida during the period in which he was under employment restrictions for previous violations.
Vincent Giuffrida and Blue Chip Companies LLC will have an opportunity to request a hearing. If USDA finds that the Blue Chip Companies LLC committed repeated and flagrant violations of the PACA, the company could be barred from operating in the produce industry and Vincent Giuffrida’s PACA employment sanctions could be extended for one year.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Branch, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to the PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. All oversight of actions related to the PACA are conducted by the AMS, an agency within the USDA. The PACA establishes a code of good business conduct for the produce industry. Under it, all interstate traders in fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables must be licensed by USDA. USDA is authorized to suspend or revoke a trader’s license for violating the act.
In fiscal year 2010 USDA resolved approximately 2,000 claims filed under the PACA involving $30 million. This is just one more way the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information contact Phyllis Hall, Director, Trade Practices Section, at (202) 720-6873, by fax at (202) 720-8868, or by email at TradePracticesSection@ams.usda.gov.
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