Dec 17, 2015Federal judge approves $25 million antitrust settlement against UPGA, UPGI
Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill approved a $25 million settlement against the United Potato Growers of America (UPGA), the United Potato Growers of Idaho (UPGI) and a number of other potato growers.
The class-action lawsuit, filed by Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce and Garden Center, alleged that UPGA, UPGI and others sought to increase potato prices by controlling the supply of potatoes grown and delivered to market.
Consumers will receive $5.5 million, and grocers $19.5 million, of the settlement.
Associated Wholesale Grocers, which filed a similar lawsuit in 2013, did not participate in the settlement and its case continues in pretrial proceedings.
