From community organizers to government officials, food justice advocates work across systems to build a more equitable and sustainable food landscape in Santa Clara County. These efforts respond to historical injustices and pandemic-era inequities by shaping local policy, holding institutions accountable, and investing in community-driven solutions.
Historical Context
Redlining was a discriminatory practice that denied credit access to residents based on location, primarily targeting Black and immigrant neighborhoods. This was used as a racial segregation and discrimination tool in the U.S for decades until the 1968 Fair Housing Act outlawed racially motivated redlining. Its impacts persist in the form of food insecurity, disinvestment, and neighborhood segregation.
MEHKOs and Redlining in San Jose
San Jose has a deep history of redlining with disparities in race and income depending on certain areas. This map visualizes the locations of MEHKO permits overlaid with historical redlining zones. Use the map to explore how community-based food businesses are navigating legacies of spatial inequality.
Top Silicon Valley Occupations
Food preparation and service workers represent the fifth largest occupation in Silicon Valley (with 67,736 individuals employed per the 2025 Silicon Valley Index Report).
Food System Educational Programs
Building a strong regional food system is vital for equity, emergency preparedness, and the health and wellness of our communities. This map displays where educational programs related to the food system are located in Santa Clara County, giving the option to explore programs from cooking and nutrition to compost and food waste. Zoom in and select a pin, then “Browse features” on the Cluster summary pop-up, then the row description that interests you to learn more about the organization and programs present at each location. Note: Due to seasonality of programs, time data was collected, and information available, this map may not be comprehensive or completely up to date. If unsure, check with the organization directly.
Urban Heat Islands in San Jose
Land Surface Temperature (LST) describes the heat of Earth’s surface in various places. Areas with vegetation are typically cooler, while built environments such as concrete are typically hotter. This is because more heat is absorbed or reflected by specific materials. Areas with lot’s of development and fewer green spaces may become Urban Heat Islands, or an area that is more hot than surrounding rural spaces. The images below show the LST of San Jose over three consecutive years. Cooler LST’s are more green, while hotter LST’s are more orange. As certain urban areas grow hotter over time, the land in these spaces may not support certain crops. However, introducing more urban agriculture spaces also helps moderate temperatures over time.
2022
2023
2024
Food Assistance and Recovery
The pandemic led to a spike in the number of meals provided by food assistance programs. Although those numbers decreased and Pandemic EBT credits were phased out during the 2023-2024 year, a variety of public and private sources including Second Harvest of Silicon Valley continue to work towards food security for all members of the South Bay.
Food recovered and diverted from waste streams continue to exceed pre-pandemic levels. Reducing food waste is a critical component of a well-functioning food system.
Recent Stories
Food Justice in Supportive Housing Sites
In Winter 2026, a Santa Clara University Capstone team conducted research to determine to what extent supportive housing residents within SCC are food insecure and how this can be addressed by the County and connected non-profits. Keep reading
Hill is the first Santa Clara County Food Systems Manager and has spearheaded key initiatives including the development of the SCC Food Systems Workplan.
Serving in his third term, Khanna represents Silicon Valley communities. Some of his many roles include serving as Chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, and being a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform, Agriculture, and Armed Services Committees.
Raised in San Jose, Senator Cortese has been part of important work including leading Santa Clara County to transition to 100% renewable electric power, creating the County Climate Coalition in partnership with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, and helping to form Silicon Valley Clean Energy.
Kalra represents much of San Jose and southeast Santa Clara County. His diverse portfolio includes authoring AB 3030 in 2019 and AB 2278 in 2022, to commit California to protect 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030.
