The one‑day Daisy Chain Fields festival on Aug. 29 in Irvine’s Great Park raised $20 million for women’s and reproductive‑rights nonprofits, with $10 million matched by philanthropist Melinda French Gates. More than 50 food and drink vendors, including Ugly Oats Kitchen and Por Suerte, took part.

Ugly Oats Kitchen owner Mary Chacon said she has not yet received proper payment for her sales. In an Instagram post, Chacon criticized DLS Events, the festival’s point of contact, for giving only fragmentary setup information, failing to tell vendors about a free staff‑food area, and threatening fines if food ran out.

Custom fortune‑cookie maker Por Suerte reported a similar lack of communication and a delayed payment. The company later posted an update saying it had heard from the organizers and expects to be paid soon.

The event was organized by DLS Events together with Jetty Event Productions and featured headline performers such as Olivia Rodrigo, Mitski and Bikini Kill. While the concert attracted huge crowds and generous donations, the behind‑the‑scenes logistics for vendors proved more complicated.

Payment delays matter because many of the vendors are small, women‑ or minority‑owned businesses that rely on timely cash flow. The contrast between the festival’s fundraising triumph and the unpaid vendors highlights the need for stronger vendor management in large charitable events.