Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)
Overview
The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”), 7 U.S.C. §§ 499a-499t, was enacted in 1930 to regulate the marketing of perishable agricultural commodities in interstate and foreign commerce. The primary purposes of the PACA are to prevent unfair and fraudulent conduct in the marketing and selling of perishable agricultural commodities and to facilitate the orderly flow of perishable agricultural commodities in interstate and foreign commerce. The PACA is administered and regulated by the Agricultural Marketing Service, an agency within the USDA. Read the full overview.
Major Statutes
The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), 7 U.S.C. §§ 499a-499t
Regulations
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Requirements, 7 C.F.R. §§ 46.1-46.49
Rules of Practice Administrative Procedures for Reparation Proceedings, 7 C.F.R. §§ 47.1-47.49
Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings, 7 C.F.R. §§ 1.130-1.151
USDA AMS Proposed, Interim, and Final Rules related to PACA
Federal Register Rules related to PACA
Final Rule: Guidance on Growers’ Trust Protection Eligibility and Clarification of Written Notification (posted by AMS 2/5/2018, effective 3/8/2018)
Final Rule: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Wild and Farm-raised Fish and Shellfish, etc. (posted by AMS 1/14/2009, effective 3/16/2009)
Final Rule: Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: Impact of Post-Default Agreements on Trust Protection Eligibility (posted by AMS 4/11/2011, effective 4/13/2011)
Final Rule: Amendments to Rules of Practice Regulations Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) To Increase Reparation Complaint Filing and Handling Fee (posted by AMS on 5/29/2008, effective 6/30/2008)
Final Rule: Amendments to Regulations Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) To Ensure Trust Protection for Produce Sellers When Using Electronic Invoicing or Other Billing Methods (posted by AMS 5/29/2007, effective 6/29/2007)
Case Law
Case Law Index for Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act
Administrative Law Decisions
USDA, Office of the Administrative Law Judges
USDA Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) Decisions
PACA Responsibly Connected (2022-Present)
PACA Disciplinary (2022-Present)
PACA Reparations (2022-Present)
USDA Office of the Judicial Officer Decisions (OJO) Decisions
PACA Responsibly Connected (2022-Present)
PACA Disciplinary (2022-Present)
PACA Reparations (2022-Present)
Center-Published USDA Judicial Officer Decisions
Recent and Sample Reparation Case Decisions by Subject Matter
Center Research Publications
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Factsheet (Pittman, 2012)
Legal and Business Guide for Specialty Crop Producers (National AgLaw Center & U. AR Division of Agriculture, 2011)
Secured Lending in the Produce Industry: What Every Bank Should Know (Klinowski, 2009)
The PACA: The Statutory Trust and Its Application to Restaurants (Pittman, 2003)
PACA Roundup: A Review of Recent Cases (Pittman, 2003)
Congressional Research Service Reports
Search Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
Subject Index– published by CRS and made available by NALC until 2018:
Farm Commodity Programs
Commodities
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal Publications on Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA):
Fruits and Vegetables – Perishable Agricultural Commodities
Reference Resources
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Commodities Covered by PACA
Common Questions & Answers
Dispute Resolution
Education & Training
Employment & License Bonds
FAQ’s for Petitions, Appeals & Oral Hearings
FAQS on PACA services
Informal Complaint Worksheet
Online PACA Services: Licensing
Online PACA License Search
PCA Search Tip Sheet
Overview of PACA
PACA Brochures
PACA Contacts
PACA Good Delivery Guidelines
PACA Training Workbook
PCA Trust
Recent PACA Press Releases
Recent and Sample Reparation Cases by Subject
Report Unfair Trade Practices
Rules and Regulations
Full PACA Statue
Regulations Under PACA
Requirements Under the PACA C.F.R
Administrative Procedures for Reparation Proceedings C.F.R.
Provisions Applicable to Disciplinary Proceedings & “Responsibly Connected” Actions C.F.R.
Congressional Resources
Reports on PACA (Government Accountability Office)
Publications
The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: Suggestions for a Grade A Loan, ABF Journal (Anthony Cianciotti, Mark Duedall, 6/25/2024)
PACA’s Priority: A Potential Problem for Secured Lenders (Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, 2023)
PACA updates from USDA (Fresh Plaza, 2023)
The PACA Primer (Henkel & Cohen, P.A., 2022)
PACA Updates (Fresh Plaza, 2022)
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (Khan, Soares & Conway LLP, 2022)
PACA Web Guide (McCarron, 2012/2022)
Consider the Consequences of Failing to Pay for Produce Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (JD Supra, 2020)
Our Guide to PACA (Fruit Growers Supply Co., 2020)
PACA and Your Property (McDonagh, 2018)
PACA and Real Property: Follow the Fruit (Bocci, K&L Gates LLP, 2018)
Transactional Real Estate: The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (Berg, New York Law Journal, 2018)
What Exporters Need to Know About PACA (RTS Financial Service, Inc., 2018)
The PACA Trust (Charles, Provident Law, 2017)
The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and Bankruptcy Claims (Goosmann Law Firm, 2019)
Providing Notice Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: Get it Exactly Right, or Risk Not Getting Paid (Kane Russell Coleman Logan, 2015)
Licensing Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: Is a USDA Apology Enough to Rescue a PACA Licensee? (Kane Russell Coleman Logan, 2015)
Getting Paid: Tools for Washington Grape Growers (Washington Wine Industry Foundation, 2015)
PACA And Bankruptcy: What Secured Lenders Must Know (Monahan, Law360, 2014)
Are All Trusts Equal under 523(a)(4): An Examination of PACA and Other Statutorily Created Trusts (American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Iss. Dec/Jan 2012 (Deborah L. Thorne, Kevin G. Collins))
Federal Law Protects Farmers’ Rights to be Paid for Fruit and Vegetable Contracts Crops (FLAG, 2007)
The Unsuspecting Fiduciary: The Curious Case of PACA and Personal Liability (American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Iss. May 2006 (Nicole Leonard))
Cherries Packed in Brine Pitfalls for Debtors Counsel under PACA (American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Iss. Jul/Aug. 2006 (Jeffrey J. Graham, Jerald I. Ancel, Paul T. Deignan) 25-6 46)
PACA Trusts and Personal Liability (Blakeley, 2004)
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Affecting Lender’s Secured Priority Interests, 7 U. Miami Bus. L. Rev. 353 (Sandra M. Ferrera (1999)).
Injunctive Relief Under the 1984 Trust Amendments to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: A Necessary Means of Trust Enforcement, 23 U.C. Davis L. Review No. 3, 625 (Patricia J. Rynn (Spring 1990))
Additional Resources
Blue Book Services
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Factsheet (USDA AMS, 08/2024)
International Fresh Produce Association
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (USDA AMS, 2013) (YouTube Video)
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (USDA AMS, 2012) (PowerPoint)
Produce Law 101: The PACA Trust and How it Works (Meuers Law Firm)
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Search Engine (USDA AMS, 2020) (data.gov)
Understanding the Basics of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, 2024) (YouTube Video)
USDA PACA- Your Partner in the Produce Industry (USDA AMS, 2018) (YouTube Video)
The Benefits of Securing a PACA License for Growers (Western Growers, 2023)
The Packer: Latest News From Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (Farm Journal, 2024)
What is PACA? (Stokes Law Office)
PACA Law (Produce Pay Blog)