San Jose was named the number one happiest and healthiest city in the U.S. by Prevention magazine, beating other California cities San Francisco (No. 7), Anaheim (No. 4) and San Diego (No. 5). San Jose nabbed the top spot due to the wide availability of organic produce alongside community gardens and healthy eating initiatives.

This comes as no surprise to residents, who can’t throw a locally-sourced organic rutabaga without hitting a farmer’s market. Downtown, Willow Glen, and Blossom Hill all have farmer’s markets, and the rest of the South Bay piles on the produce too: Santa Clara, Campbell, Saratoga, and the list goes on.

Not only are there numerous farmer’s markets, but many of them hock myriad organic foods. The article cites growing evidence that the presence pesticides in our food is linked to increased risk of cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and other health issues. A food must be grown without synthetic pesticides to be labeled USDA organic; hence, more organic food, healthier people.

But it’s not just professional farmers bringing produce into the city. San Jose also has a robust community garden program. Prevention even lowballs the amount of community garden space available to residents. According to the city website, San Jose has around 35 acres of garden space, much more than the 22 acres claimed by Prevention. Over 900 locals grow food for themselves and their neighbors in these spaces.

San Jose has also recently updated its ordinances to better allow roadside vendors to sell fresh produce. These vendors in particular bring fruits and vegetables into low income areas that may not always have access to healthy food.

While the orchards and farms that gave Santa Clara Valley the moniker Valley of Heart’s Delight may be long gone, the area is still recognized as a leader in making its residents happy and healthy with quality produce.