USDA ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY PROCESSOR

                                              Release No. 0134.97

                                       Jim Borland (202) 690-0469
				   	     jim.borland@usda.gov                                             
                                  Phil Shanholtzer (703) 305-2286
                                    phil_shanzoltzer@fcs.usda.gov

USDA ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY PROCESSOR

     WASHINGTON, April 24, 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture
announced today the suspension of a California fruit and vegetable
processing company and its former president from contracting with the
Federal government, charging that it sold to USDA strawberries grown in
Mexico for use in the National School Lunch Program.  The Federal government
purchases only domestic produce for the School Lunch Program, and
contractors are required to certify that their produce is grown
domestically.

     USDA is charging that Andrew and Williamson Sales Company, Inc., of
San Diego, Calif., and its former president, Fred L. Williamson, falsely
certified strawberries provided under contract for the School Lunch Program
as "100 percent grown and packed in the United States."

     The strawberries, processed by A&W in 1996, were linked earlier this
month to an outbreak of hepatitis A in Michigan.  USDA's Food and Consumer
Service issued an order to put on hold and keep from use more than 1 million
pounds of the strawberries in 16 states and the District of Columbia.  In an
April 1 press release, A&W's parent company, Epitope, Inc., indicated that
"A&W inaccurately described some of the strawberries associated with the
outbreak as having been grown and processed in the U.S. as required..."

     USDA, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, and the Department of Justice continue to
investigate the incident and have not yet determined what charges may be
brought against either Williamson or A&W.

     Acting Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Mary
Ann Keeffe said both A&W and its former president will be suspended until
the investigation and any related legal actions are completed.

     "Selling foreign produce to the School Lunch Program under the
pretense that it was grown in the U.S. is a very serious violation," Keeffe
said.  "A&W's parent firm has admitted to that violation by A&W.  We are looking
very closely at both A&W and Mr. Williamson to see what charges may be
brought against them."

     In a letter to both Williamson and A&W, Food and Consumer Service
Administrator William E. Ludwig said the suspension "will be in effect
pending further investigation of the alleged fraud and the completion of any
related legal action."  Ludwig said the suspension excludes A&W and
Williamson from "engaging in most contracts and other transactions involving
Federal...programs nationwide."  Both are also barred from acting as a
subcontractor under most government contracts.

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