Merced County ‘kingpins’ blamed for unpermitted food vendors in Monterey County
An alleged unpermitted food vendor operation based out of Merced County has been blamed for problems in Monterey County.
The situation was discussed at a Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 3.
“We know the vans come out of Merced,” said Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez. “You see the license plate. It’s crystal clear.”
At the Merced County Board of Supervisors meeting Jan. 13, county environmental health officials presented the results of its crackdown on unpermitted food and its plans for the rest of the year.
Merced County says unpermitted vendors cause unsanitary and unsafe food for customers. They also cause unfair economic competition for vendors and restaurant owners who have properly gone through the permit process and are regularly inspected.
It appears the problem has spread to Monterey County, and officials there say much of the problem stems from a group based in Merced County.
Unpermitted food vendors in Monterey County
Monterey County health officials presented their findings at the board of supervisors meeting.
During his presentation, Armando Gonzalez of Monterey County’s Environmental Health Department said the increase in pop-up food vendors is due to a California law that took effect Jan. 1, 2023, that decriminalized sidewalk food vending.
He then went on to discuss the unpermitted food vendor problem in Monterey County.
“It is an organized operation,” Gonzalez said. “Through coordination with the District Attorney’s Office, it has been determined that these vendors are not small or independent operators, but a large organized operation headquartered in Merced County. This organization operates in multiple counties in California.”
Monterey County DA calls them ‘kingpins’
In May, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni blamed an operation out of Merced County for the increase in unlicensed roadside food vendors in Monterey County.
“These unpermitted roadside food stands are easily recognizable by their blue and red tents covering tables, grills, and vertical rotisseries. Investigators have traced ownership of these stands to kingpins operating out of Merced County,” Pacioni said in a statement.
“Food sold at the stands in Monterey County is reportedly prepared in Merced and then transported over two hours all over the central coast, including Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara.”
The unpermitted vendors earn $100,000 in cash a month for the Merced organization, but workers at the stands make less than minimum wage, Pacioni’s statement said.
‘We can’t just continue to turn a blind eye’
Like Merced County, Monterey County levies fines and confiscates equipment when unpermitted vendors are found. But often the vendors are back with new equipment the next day, Monterey County officials said.
Not only do the unpermitted vendors not follow protocols to serve sanitary and safe food, they cause other problems, too, according to Monterey County officials. They’re often located in traffic-congested areas.
One Monterey County resident crossing the street to get to a vendor was hit and killed by a vehicle, according to Lopez.
“We can’t just continue to turn a blind eye,” Lopez said at the Feb. 3 meeting. “I’ve already lost one resident (out of my district), and it was one too many.”
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
