Release No.: 042-16
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2016 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found Shelley S. Harrison, now known as Shelley Valdivia, responsibly connected to Al Harrison Company Distributors (Harrison) in Nogales, Ariz. Harrison failed to pay $690,537 to 12 sellers for 104 lots of produce. This is a violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
Shelley Valdivia, without admitting her responsible connection to Harrison, consented to a finding that she was responsibly connected to Harrison when it violated PACA. As a result, Shelley Valdivia may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Jan. 14, 2017, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. In addition, Ms. Valdivia cannot be licensed in the produce industry until Jan. 14, 2018, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. USDA is authorized to suspend or revoke a trader’s license for violating the act. All oversight of actions related to PACA are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Our experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contact Josephine E. Jenkins, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, or by email at PACAInvestigations@ams.usda.gov.
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