In 1947, a small village in Salinas valley on highway 101, 135 miles to the south from San Francisco, was incorporated as a city and was named after one of the original organizers of the town Edward Greenfield. The name turned out to be symbolic, since Greenfield is centered in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world where over $2 billion (US) worth of fruits and vegetables are produced annually. So it is not for nothing that it was nicknamed the "Salad Bowl of the World" or "Broccoli Capital of the World”. Grape growing and wine business are big in Greenfield; new vineyards, wineries and wine tasting rooms appear there every year.

The prolific climate of Greenfield (as of any part of Salinas valley) makes it very congenial for people. The citizens are proud of their accomplishments, and look forward to an even better future. The city remains dedicated to its agricultural roots, but has committed itself to diversification and opportunities for its residents, and to become not only a modern business city, but also a tourist center.

Every year Greenfield attracts more and more tourists since it is a part of Steinbeck Country, a big memorial area around Salinas city, a birthplace of John Steinbeck (1902-1968), one of the most prominent american writers, winner of Nobel Prize for Literature (1962) who is rightly considered a XX century classic.