The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed a complaint against Bella Fresh Houston LLC, alleging the company failed to pay more than $3.15 million to produce suppliers.
The company failed to make payments to 10 produce suppliers from December 2017 to May 2019, violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, according to a USDA news release.
Bella Fresh Houston can request a hearing on the allegations, according to the release. If the USDA finds that Bella Fresh Houston “committed repeated and flagrant violations” of PACA rules, it would be barred from having a PACA license for three years, or two with a USDA-approved surety bond.
Related stories:
Three companies and principal operators lose PACA licenses
Importance of PACA protections escalates in pandemic
Have PACA questions during the COVID-19 crisis? The USDA has answers
