FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A federal court has ordered Vallarta Food Enterprises Inc. to comply with guidelines set by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that a federal court has directed Vallarta Food Enterprises, Inc., along with its related companies, to fully comply with subpoenas issued in September 2024.
The subpoenas stem from allegations that Vallarta Supermarkets failed to recruit, hire, or promote individuals based on race and national origin, specifically excluding non-Hispanic individuals.
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ordered Vallarta Supermarkets to turn over all requested applicant and employee data.
Officials said the information will help determine whether the supermarket chain is engaging in unlawful hiring practices.
In its ruling, the court emphasized the limited scope of EEOC subpoena enforcement, noting that “judicial review is quite narrow.”
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas underscored the importance of the decision, saying, “The court recognized EEOC’s broad authority to obtain subpoena compliance from employers when the agency seeks information to investigate discrimination and enforce Title VII’s protections for workers.”
Lucas added that the records are essential to determine whether Vallarta Supermarkets unlawfully excluded non-Hispanic workers from employment.
The EEOC filed the court action in July 2025 after unsuccessful efforts to obtain voluntary compliance from Vallarta Supermarkets.
The case involves multiple related companies, including Gonzalez Food Enterprises, Inc., and Daniel Food Enterprises, Inc., among others.
California regulators are also seeking to suspend Trinkle Ag Flying’s license over pesticide violations.
Vallarta Supermarkets operates about 80 locations across Central and Southern California, with its corporate headquarters based in Sylmar, Calif. The EEOC, the only federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate employment discrimination cases, continues to coordinate the federal government’s antidiscrimination efforts.
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