Palo Alto Group Buys 71-Acre Coyote Valley Farmland in San Jose for $5.3 Million

The Peninsula Open Space Trust aims to preserve agriculture and open space in the largely undeveloped area on San Jose's southern edges.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:10pm

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring an elegant arrangement of freshly harvested vegetables, farm tools, and natural materials, conveying the enduring value of sustainable agriculture in the Coyote Valley region.A serene still life celebrating the preservation of Coyote Valley's family-owned farmland and its role in sustaining local food production.San Jose Today

The Peninsula Open Space Trust, a non-profit environmental group based in Palo Alto, has purchased a 71-acre farm in Coyote Valley, San Jose for $5.3 million. The land, which had been owned by the same family since the 1950s, will be transferred to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and continue to be leased to the current farming tenant, B&T Farms. The purchase is the latest in a series of efforts to preserve agriculture and open space in Coyote Valley, an area that was once eyed for large technology campuses.

Why it matters

Coyote Valley has long been a battleground between development and conservation interests. This purchase helps maintain the area's agricultural character and wildlife corridors, which are crucial for the region's ecological health and biodiversity. It also prevents the land from being used for more intensive development, such as a proposed battery storage plant.

The details

The 71-acre farm grows bell peppers, corn, lettuce, and pumpkins. It had been considered as a potential site for a battery storage plant and other development, but the Peninsula Open Space Trust stepped in to purchase the property and preserve it as farmland. The land will be transferred to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, which will continue leasing it to the current farming tenant, B&T Farms.

  • The Peninsula Open Space Trust purchased the 71-acre farm in April 2026.
  • The land had been owned by the same family since the 1950s.

The players

Peninsula Open Space Trust

A non-profit environmental group based in Palo Alto that has preserved more than 98,000 acres in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including in Coyote Valley.

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

A San Jose-based agency that will manage the 71-acre 'Coyote Fields' farm and eventually become its owner.

B&T Farms

The current farming tenant that will continue leasing the 71-acre property.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to preserve productive farmland that has been family owned for decades, maintaining a small piece of the Valley of Heart's Delight in perpetuity.”

— Gordon Clark, President of the Peninsula Open Space Trust

“Preserving our remaining farmland advances the long‑term vision for Coyote Valley as a resilient, productive landscape that supports local food and strengthens the future of the communities we serve.”

— Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

What’s next

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority will take over management of the 'Coyote Fields' farm and continue leasing it to B&T Farms. The authority is also studying plans to build wildlife overcrossings or undercrossings to help animals navigate across busy roads and infrastructure in the Coyote Valley area.

The takeaway

This purchase is the latest in a series of efforts to preserve the agricultural character and ecological integrity of Coyote Valley, an area that has long been under threat from development pressures. By protecting farmland and wildlife corridors, these conservation efforts aim to maintain a balance between human activity and the natural environment in this important region.