Welcome to Blue Book!
Are you ready to join the thousands of companies who rely on Blue Book to drive smarter decisions? View our plans and get started today!
Still have questions? We’d love to show you what Blue Book can do for you. Drop us a line– we’ve been waiting for you.

Trade with confidence... every time.
Blue Book’s real-time alerts help you stay up to speed with everything in the produce industry

Trade with confidence... every time.
Blue Book’s real-time alerts help you stay up to speed with everything in the produce industry

Trade with confidence... every time.
Blue Book’s real-time alerts help you stay up to speed with everything in the produce industry
Proving Concealed Damages
Accordingly, we would encourage the distributor to call for a CFIA inspection and to specifically ask the inspector to report on the freshness of the injury. If the...

Accordingly, we would encourage the distributor to call for a CFIA inspection and to specifically ask the inspector to report on the freshness of the injury. If the inspector were to document that it appears some of the injury is too advanced to have occurred in the last one or two days, this would seem to be conclusive support for the distributor’s position.
Lastly, while we don’t want to minimize the receiver’s concern about the risk of infesting its warehouse, surely there is a location, even if outdoors and off-site, where these tomatoes can be safely inspected. If not, it may be that the distributor finds itself unable to show the product it signed for in Detroit was already infested.
What’s more, the shipper may well use the distributor’s failure to get a CFIA inspection to its advantage by arguing that if some of the injury was old, the distributor would have called for an inspection to settle the issue. Generally speaking, arbitrators are reluctant to see a party that failed to secure relevant and available evidence (e.g., neglecting to call for an inspection needed to settle a pivotal question of fact) benefit from this failure.
Your questions? Yes, send them in. Legal answers? No, industry knowledgeable answers. If you have questions or would like further information, email tradingassist@bluebookservices.com.
Doug Nelson is vice president of the Special Services department at Blue Book Services. Nelson previously worked as an investigator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as an attorney specializing in commercial litigation.

News you need.
Join Blue Book today!
Get access to all the news and analysis you need to make the right decision --- delivered to your inbox.
What to read next
USDA restricts PACA violators in California and Florida
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring […]
USDA restricts five PACA violators
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring […]
USDA restricts PACA violators in Florida and Texas
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring […]
Hazel Tech to host Grape Quality Summit
The virtual event, held on May 6, 2022, will take a deep dive into the table grape industry during the North American table grape season CHICAGO, IL – Hazel Technologies Inc., BB #:302595 a USDA-funded company developing innovations to extend the shelf life of produce and reduce food waste is hosting the Grape Quality Summit the first […]
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Florida firm
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Natura Fresh LLC BB #:348926 satisfied a $3,168 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions. The Miami, Fla., company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. […]
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on NY business
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Carioto Produce, Inc. BB #:117242, satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $11,510 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions. The Green Island, N.Y., company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and […]
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Blue Book Services. All Rights Reserved