Agrihood: CA’s largest urban farm that combines affordable housing opens in Santa Clara

Officials say it’s the largest urban farm in the state, calling it “a first-of-its-kind space.”

By Zach Fuentes
ABC
September 21, 2023

Excerpt:

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) — A new farm is now open in one of the busiest areas in the South Bay.

Officials say it’s the largest urban farm in the state, calling it “a first-of-its-kind space.”

The site is located on North Winchester Boulevard in Santa Clara near the border of San Jose.

The farm boasts crops like sweet potato, parsley, bell peppers and much more growing just a short walk away from Westfield Valley Fair mall and Santana Row in the South Bay.

It’s called Agrihood.

“This is the first urban Agrihood, in a city of this size in any city in this country and it’s got an agricultural working farm here,” said Kirk Vartan, a driving force behind the beginnings of the farm.

More than a farm, Agrihood is also the site of affordable housing with a focus on senior and veteran residents. It provides not just a place to live and access produce, but also a community with farmers markets and gardening lessons.

“It’s going to give them something to do, places to be,” said City of Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor. “We’re gonna have 50 pop-up events a year here, so they’re gonna meet each other, have fun together and really enhance their quality of life.”

Vartan and other community members started encouraging the city 20 years ago to revitalize the former UC Davis agriculture site. They finally made major strides in 2014.

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