Advocates demand heat protections for greenhouse workers growing America's houseplants
Activists delivered petitions to Costa Farms, the world's largest houseplant grower, demanding adequate heat protections such as water, shade, and paid breaks for nursery workers. The multi-state action, led by the worker group WeCount, targets five cities where the company operates and highlights the lack of meaningful heat standards for outdoor laborers. Efforts to establish local heat rules in Florida were preempted by a 2024 state law, complicating advocacy.
The coordinated protest on Tuesday followed years of advocacy by WeCount, which had previously pushed for a municipal heat standard in Miami-Dade County before Florida’s 2024 state law blocked such local measures. That legislation, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, responded to industry complaints and prevented counties from enacting their own workplace heat rules. The new campaign, called Planting Justice, now targets corporate growers directly rather than government bodies.
Costa Farms operates nurseries in five U.S. cities, including the two locations targeted on Tuesday in North Carolina and Florida. The company is the world’s largest producer of indoor houseplants, supplying major retailers nationwide. Activists delivered petitions to managers at both sites, calling for water access, shade, and paid rest breaks for workers who labor inside hot greenhouses.
This action may signal a shift in how labor advocacy proceeds in states where legislative avenues are closed. By targeting a major corporate grower directly, WeCount could pressure Costa Farms to set voluntary standards that other nursery operators might follow. The campaign may also raise consumer awareness about working conditions in the houseplant supply chain, potentially influencing purchasing decisions. However, without government enforcement, the impact likely depends on public pressure and corporate willingness to act.