Blog

Contra Costa County certifies their first home-based restaurant

Contributed by Eyra Gonzales, Pollution Prevention Specialist and Green Business Coordinator, Contra Costa County

Did you know that home-base restaurants can also get Green Business Certified? This year, the Contra Costa County Green Business Program certified its first Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO): Queen of Crust and Chicks and Love. The business was certified in June 2025 and has become a role model to other businesses on how to incorporate sustainability in every aspect of business operations. 

Kellie Joe, owner of the business, has been making pizzas since 2009 and integrates a strong commitment to sustainability into many aspects of their operations. Customers can benefit from organic/non-GMO ingredients, honey made from their backyard bees, eggs from their chickens, and herbs and veggies grown in their garden. In addition to having solar panels, the home is equipped with LED lighting, which significantly enhances its electricity savings. The business is also water-conscious, with a pond on-site with water filtration used to water the plants and serve as an extra touch for their “patio oasis” experience. Finally, to reduce pollution in their garden, they do their own pest management control using a peppermint, lemongrass, and dish soap mixture. For these reasons and more, we are happy that Queen Of Crust and Chicks and Love have joined the Contra Costa County Green Business community.

Kellie shares that becoming a green business means “Carrying out their dad’s legacy”. Robert Joe was one of the founders of Sustainable Contra Costa in 2007, an organization that promotes community action towards the reduction of waste and the conservation of natural resources. Kellie’s business brings a dine-in restaurant to their own backyard oasis while creating a welcoming space for the community.  

Since 1998, the Contra Costa Green Business Program has provided small to medium-sized businesses with technical support in areas of water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and pollution prevention. Businesses are able to reduce costs and make their workplaces cleaner and healthier for employees and their environment. In 2019, Assembly Bill 626 went into effect in California, allowing a city or county “full discretion” to authorize Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) in their jurisdiction. The program’s goal is to bring equity to microentrepreneurs to comply with state and local laws and legitimize their business through proper permits. MEHKO businesses, like dine-in restaurants, need to pass annual safety inspections as well as food safety handling training.

If you would like to learn more about how to get your MEHKO Green Business Certified, contact your local coordinator today!