Santa Clara County Food System Alliance
The Santa Clara County Food System Alliance was built off the work being done by a previously existing group called the Silicon Valley Food System Collaborative, which grow out of the Silicon Valley HealthCorp (SVHC). Led by The Health Trust, the SVFSC members came together to respond to concerns around health issues in Santa Clara County, the lack of access to healthy food, the loss of ag land in the southern part of the county, and to promote a sustainable food system in the South Bay and Northern San Benito. There are several issues facing the county and its residents:
- Prevalence of overweight and obesity was highest for adult males, adults who are Hispanic, and adults with lower levels of income and education
- Research suggests that community, school, and home gardens can provide neighborhoods with access to locally grown produce and create greater awareness of the benefits of healthful food, greater understanding of the benefits of a local food system, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, and enhanced community cohesion
In 2012, after a year of developing stakeholder understanding, member recruitment, and other foundation-building work, the Santa Clara County Alliance has also formed three committees: Ag Viability, Access (Food Security), and Assessment. A broad base of members have been recruited including the Executive Director of the Farm Bureau, urban agriculture proponents, public health advocates, the County Ag Commissioner, food security activists, representatives from Santa Clara University, UC Cooperative Extension, and more.
SCCFSA Member highlighted in article about immigrant growers in Santa Clara County
March 2013 Aziz Baamuer of UCCE Small Farms Program and SCCFSA member, speaks to the challenges of Asian immigrant farmers in Silicon Valley. See Article
Read More »Santa Clara Food System Alliance provides recommendations for Ag mitigation policy in Morgan Hill
December 2012 As ag mitigation policies are developed in Morgan Hill, the SCCFSA weighs in.
Read More »Conserving Coyote Valley Agriculure Feasibility Study releases final report
The final report, Sustaining Agriculture and Conservation in the Coyote Valley: Findings and Recommendations. The Study and Executive Summary are also available for download from the website of the project funder, the Coastal Conservancy.
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