Blue Zones Project urges Gonzales to tighten tobacco rules, highlights community garden and school engagement ahead of national site visit

Kendra Howell, a policy lead for the Blue Zones Project South Monterey County, told the Gonzales City Council on Feb. 18 that the city is nearing a national Blue Zones certification and is preparing for a site visit by Blue Zones national staff the week of May 5–9.

The presentation described work across three areas—people, places and policy—where the Blue Zones Project measures community changes that support longer, healthier lives. Howell said the certification process includes validating approved worksites, schools and restaurants and adopting an additional local policy. “We’re preparing for a site visit from Blue Zones National,” Howell said, noting the team will tour the community garden and meet stakeholders from businesses and schools.

The nut graf: Certification would formally recognize long-running local projects, but Blue Zones staff told the council one relatively small ordinance change would be needed for Gonzales to meet the policy requirements: aligning the city’s tobacco retail licensing with Monterey County’s ordinance.

Howell and colleagues detailed that the county retail license covers product categories not included in the 2022 statewide voter measure, and recommended the city update its ordinance accordingly. The county’s retail license, Howell said, “includes single use e-cigarettes, flavored pipe tobacco, flavored premium cigars, and hookah tobacco,” categories the presenters said are not covered by the state measure passed by voters in 2022. Blue Zones offered to work with Monterey County Health Department staff to draft the update for city staff review and council consideration.

Marcus Pulido, the Blue Zones worksite lead, reported local approvals and employee reach. He said Gonzales currently has three Blue Zones–approved worksites—Braga Fresh Foods, Taylor Farms, and the Taylor Farms Family Health and Wellness Clinic—and that those employer partners alone account for “over 900 employees” engaged in Blue Zones activities countywide. Pulido recommended the Gonzales school district consider becoming an approved worksite to extend program alignment across schools.

Dalila Alvarado, the Blue Zones food-environment lead, described restaurant and grocery participation and local food programs. She said nearly 60 restaurants countywide are Blue Zones approved and that two Gonzales restaurants—La Plaza Bakery and Luigi’s—offer Blue Zones menu options. Alvarado highlighted a local collaboration distributing 218 produce boxes weekly in Gonzales (about 160 at Central Park and the remainder at the Taylor Farms clinic) and said that distribution is funded through July 25.

The presenters also described the Gonzales community garden—the project the team described as the city’s marquee Blue Zones site—and said partners including the Resource Conservation District are preparing a pollinator garden and orchard. Blue Zones asked for community volunteers and said the garden will be among the sites shown during the May site visit.

Council members thanked the presenters and asked several clarifying questions about employee counts and pollinator plans. Mayor Jose Rios and other council members said they appreciated Blue Zones’ programming, including recent chair-yoga offerings.

Ending: Blue Zones representatives said they will work with city staff and county health officials on the recommended tobacco licensing update and with city leaders on scheduling the May site visit. City staff did not set a formal date for bringing an ordinance amendment to the council during the Feb. 18 meeting.