Half Moon Bay and nearby coastal communities make sizable contributions to California’s agricultural output—particularly significant, considering their small size. Lush fields of Brussels sprouts, artichokes, berries, and herbs line the coast, bound for farmers markets and supermarkets alike. But behind this regional abundance is a stark and troubling contradiction: the farmworkers who grow and harvest this food often struggle to feed their own families.

Many of these workers live in crowded, substandard housing and earn wages that do not keep up with the high cost of living in San Mateo County. In some cases, multiple families share a single trailer, with each paying several hundred dollars a month just for a shared place to sleep. Seasonal employment adds instability, and lack of healthcare and transportation compounds the hardship.

During the COVID pandemic, the public learned how essential these workers are. Yet despite their essential worker status, many had no safety net. Local food banks reported increased demand from farmworker families, even as these same families continued to work the fields throughout the pandemic.

This local crisis is a symptom of a broader problem: our food system is not sustainable—socially, economically, or environmentally.

A sustainable food system is one that provides healthy food to all people while ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for those who grow it. It protects natural resources, reduces waste, supports local economies, and builds resilience in the face of climate change and economic disruption. Right now, we fall short on nearly every count.

So what can we do? Locally, efforts are underway. San Mateo County has created a Farmworker Advisory Commission to bring farmworker voices into policymaking. Half Moon Bay approved a senior farmworker housing project at 555 Kelly Avenue to offer more stable, affordable living conditions. Nonprofits like ALAS (Ayudando Latinos A Soñar) and Puente De La Costa Sur provide advocacy and support for workers. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently approved a $2 million loan program for farmworker housing.

But deeper change requires more than housing—it means rethinking the values behind our food system. We can support sustainable agriculture by buying from local farms that practice environmental stewardship and treat workers with dignity. We can push for stronger labor protections, higher wages, and policies that recognize farmworkers not just as labor but as members of our community.

The food grown here nourishes the region. It’s time to make sure the people who grow it are nourished too.

Food Insecure Farmworkers Rely on Food Banks to Feed Their Families | USC Center for Health Journalism

Farmworker Advisory Commission | County of San Mateo, CA

Half Moon Bay council approves crucial housing project for senior farmworkers (El Tímpano)

ALAS

Puente de la Costa Sur

San Mateo Co. approves $2 million to improve housing for farmworkers (ABC 7)