California distributor satisfies PACA violation terms

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2024 — In a complaint filed on June 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alleged that VIP Marketing Inc. BB #:155992, Los Angeles, Calif., failed to make full payment promptly in the total amount of $408,983 to three sellers for multiple lots of produce in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

After the complaint was filed, USDA and VIP Marketing Inc. entered into a Consent Decision and Order wherein VIP Marketing Inc. agreed to pay the unpaid produce sellers listed in Appendix A to the Complaint and to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $40,000.

As a result of VIP Marketing Inc. satisfying the terms of the consent decision and order, the finding that it had committed repeated and flagrant PACA violations was permanently abated without further process and the case has been closed.

For more information, contact Corey Elliott, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or PACAInvestigations@usda.gov.

Contact Info
Public Affairs
PA@usda.gov
(202) 720-8998
Release No. 183-24