San Mateo County is suing Cal Coast Orchids, which operated a production and fulfillment center in Half Moon Bay until December, after workers accused the plant company of wage theft and other labor violations — allegations the county says harmed not only employees but their families and the coastside community.
Here's what to know
Mixtiles USA is also named in the case. According to Bay City News via SFGate, Mixtiles USA is the company behind the online plant delivery service EasyPlant and had a business relationship with Cal Coast Orchids.
The county alleges the issues lasted for years. Bay City News reported that the civil complaint says about 50 people who worked at the Half Moon Bay facility from 2022 through 2025 were subjected to a "sustained, systemic pattern of wage theft and labor violations," including late pay, unpaid overtime, other underpayment, minimum wage violations, and missed meal breaks.
Bay City News said that in multiple pay periods during the 2025 holiday season, about two dozen workers allegedly put in long hours, including overtime, and were not paid at all. Cal Coast Orchids, Mixtiles USA, and EasyPlant did not respond to requests for comment.
More background
"This and other violations have caused major hardship for workers and their families, with ripple effects throughout the close-knit coastside community where most of the affected employees reside," the county said in a statement.
The complaint says EasyPlant kept working with Cal Coast Orchids even though it knew, or reasonably should have known, that workers were not being paid on time.
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What's being done?
In the lawsuit, the county is seeking back wages, damages, and civil penalties from Cal Coast Orchids and Mixtiles USA.
Officials pointed workers and employers to the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement for help with labor rules and possible workplace violations in order to hold companies accountable. The office's confidential, multilingual advice line is 1-866-870-7725. It can also be reached by email at olse@smcgov.org or by filling out an online inquiry.
"When an employer accepts a worker's labor, they take on a clear legal duty: Pay that employee fully and lawfully," County Attorney John Nibbelin said. "We are taking enforcement action because San Mateo County businesses must be accountable for their obligations as employers."
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