SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A California tractor company will pay more than $5 million to settle allegations that the retailer overcharged customers, violated pesticide regulations, and illegally labeled products as biodegradable.
Tractor Supply West LLC was ordered to pay $5.1 million in civil penalties, restitution, and costs to settle the allegations.
District attorney's offices in Sonoma, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, and San Bernardino counties filed the consumer protection complaint in Sonoma County.
Prosecutors accused Tractor Supply of charging customers prices higher than the lowest advertised or posted prices.
They also alleged that the company sold pesticides without current licenses from the Department of Pesticide Regulation, failed to document pesticide sales as required, and sold restricted pesticides without appropriate licenses.
The complaint also accused Tractor Supply of selling products labeled as "biodegradable" in violation of California's greenwashing laws.
Each alleged offense also violated California's Unfair Competition Law.
"Businesses in California that fail to comply with all laws and regulations that have been enacted to protect consumers and the environment, cause injury to our citizens and our environment and also unfairly compete with businesses that incur the costs to comply with these laws," Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said in a statement announcing the settlement. "Our Environmental and Consumer Law Division works with District Attorneys throughout the state to ensure that businesses comply with these laws."
Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Patrick Broderick signed the stipulated judgment Aug. 5. The judgment requires Tractor Supply to implement new policies and procedures to comply with the price accuracy, pesticide, and greenwashing laws.
Tractor Supply cooperated with the investigation and voluntarily stopped selling pesticides after district attorneys contacted the company. The retailer resumed sales after obtaining the proper licensing.
Deputy District Attorneys Caroline Fowler and Jessica Washington prosecuted the case.
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