South Bay Food Systems Dashboard
Data-driven strategies to enhance food security and justice across the South Bay Area
24%
of Santa Clara and San Mateo residents live below self-sufficiency standards
318 million
meals were distributed through food assistance programs Santa Clara and San Mateo County from 2022 to 2023
$35.40/hour
is the living wage a single adult needs to cover basic needs without assistance in Santa Clara County
79 out of 171
San Francisco Bay Area food desert neighborhoods are located in San Jose
Key Food System Participants
Food Entrepreneurs
Local vendors and small food businesses driving the South Bay’s food economy by navigating opportunities and overcoming barriers
Urban Growers & Farmers
Farmers, gardeners, and producers working to expand access to fresh, locally grown food across the South Bay
Advocates & Policy Makers
Individuals and institutions advancing food justice through policy, advocacy, and research in the region
Using the Dashboard
This multi-language dashboard was developed with the aim of strengthening the South Bay regional food system by providing resources for different food system participants and increasing access to nutritious, culturally relevant food.
The dashboard is divided into pages, each of which represent a different food entrepreneur or advocate position. These groups are food entrepreneurs, including MEHKO and CFO owners; urban growers and farmers; and food advocates and policymakers. The County of Santa Clara Food Systems Workplan and accompanying goals provides secondary structure to the dashboard. Both areas of progress toward achieving food sovereignty, and areas where further work is needed are highlighted.
The dashboard is unique in its community-centered approach. Much of the information presented in the dashboard emerged from multiple rounds of feedback meetings with stakeholder representatives from each audience group. This dashboard can be used to learn ways to support food entrepreneurs access resources relevant to a specific food business, including permitting and potential product buyer information, and become informed on historical and current food justice and environmental issues.
Navigation
The Landing Page, which you are currently on, offers quick links to resources tailored for different audiences (e.g., policymakers, community members, food workers). You can return here anytime by clicking “Data for Food Justice” in the top menu. You can also use the top menu to access tailored content for specific groups. These pages mirror the quick links on the landing page and provide targeted tools, case studies, and data.
Click the “About” tab in the top menu to explore the County of Santa Clara Food System Workplan and its guiding principles.
Visit the “News” tab in the top menu for project announcements, partner features, and recent events.
Hover over maps and graphics throughout the site to view additional pop-up information and data insights.
Santa Clara County Resilient Food System Goals
Goal 1: Enhance food system coordination and leadership
Goal 2: Increase community engagement in the food system toward greater food sovereignty
Goal 3: Maintain farmland, increase agricultural opportunities, and enhance farm viability
Goal 4: Build a strong regional food economy where communities and individuals prosper
Goal 5: Improve food security and public health through access to nutritious, culturally relevant, and affordable food
Goal 6: Expand food recovery and composting
Goal 7: Build a strong constituency for a strong regional food system by increasing food and agricultural education
