The water tower at Moffett Field in front of Hangar One, one of the world’s largest freestanding structures, is a visual representation of Silicon Valley’s agricultural past and its military-industrial history.
This coming Thursday, many Californians will celebrate César Chávez Day, an official state holiday since 2000. But though they may not be in the office on March 31, some citizens may still be busy. This holiday has a unique purpose: encouraging acts of community service to honor Chávez’s work as a farm laborer, union organizer and civil rights activist. With Dolores Huerta (who turns 92 on April 10), Chávez cofounded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers.
How important is agriculture in California? Though it’s not the top sector in the state economy, it does produce some $50 billion in revenue and more than 400 commodity crops are grown across the state. About half of the national production of lettuce and celery takes place in the Salinas Valley, and California has more certified organic farms than any other state. But in Silicon Valley, that productive farmland gave way to a new source of wealth: the defense industry. In 1956, Lockheed moved its Missile Systems Division from Burbank 340 miles north to Sunnyvale, buying farmland next to the Naval Air Station Moffett Field—which was already making the region a hot spot for technology engineers.
In the articles we feature this week, California Local writer Ray Delgado offers up information on where to learn more about Chávez and his legacy, as well as tips how to make the holiday a true day of service. And Jonathan Vankin takes a look at how defense industry contracts blew up the California economy and fueled the tech revolution that changed the world.
