Eastern Coachella Valley

The Eastern Coachella Valley is located in Southern California. It is known to locals as a geographical subdivision of the Coachella Valley. In other words, although the Eastern Coachella Valley is located within the same Coachella Valley geographical parameters, it is considered its own. This subdivision is due primarily to the lack of incorporation of rural communities to the entity of the Coachella Valley as a whole.

The Eastern Coachella Valley is made up of four rural and unincorporated communities. These communities include Thermal, Oasis, Mecca, and North Shore. These communities are home to predominantly Latino or Hispanic agricultural working families. Majority of these families are low-income and of Mexican or Mexican-American descent.

Agricultural workers represent the main local labor force. They contribute approximately 430 million dollars a year to the region [8]. These rural and unincorporated communities constitute the back bone of the American Food System. However, despite their noteworthy contribution to the American Food System, they live in impoverished environments and conditions. Challenging water and waste water conditions, plus the few economic opportunities found in these regions are factors that contribute to the continuation of poverty in the area.