CERTIFIED BLUE ZONES COMMUNITY
Monterey County has achieved Blue Zones Community® certification, making it the first county to earn the designation in the state of California. The certification recognizes Monterey County’s measurable success in well-being transformation through the effective implementation of Blue Zones Project®, a pioneering population health initiative that integrates evidence-based best practices in the built environment, food and tobacco policy, and social connection within participating communities.
Brought to Monterey County by Salinas Valley Health, Taylor Farms, and Montage Health in 2018, the initiative has engaged local leaders, volunteers, and organizations to help residents move naturally, eat better, develop healthy connections, and live purposefully. Salinas reached certification in 2024, and the remaining Monterey County projects earned the designation in 2025.
Monterey County earned the designation by meeting and exceeding Project benchmarks in categories including resident and employer engagement rates, well-being scores, and community policies. As a result of the community-wide effort led by the local Blue Zones Project team, Monterey County’s overall community well-being score improved by3.7 points since 2019. Each point increase in well-being for a population leads to approximately a two percent reduction in ER visits and hospital utilization, and to approximately a one percent reduction in total health care costs. In addition:
- Residents who report they are thriving in daily life rose from 58.6% to 66% of the population;
- Individuals are moving more, with 68.1% reporting at least 30 minutes of exercise three or more days per week, compared to 62% in 2019;
- 42% fewer residents report high cholesterol;
- $133.3 million in add-on and grant funding was leveraged for well-being projects; and
- Over $392 million in avoided medical and lost productivity costs were gained over the last five years.
These impressive measures are the direct result of the participation of more than 41,000 individuals and nearly 250 organizations who implemented Project programs, activities, and best practices. More than 196 new community policies, plans and initiatives implemented as part of the Project have improved built environment infrastructure, food systems, and tobacco use across Monterey County to support better health among residents.
