The California Insect Wars

California’s Insects Wars was filmed in 1980, in the Imperial Valley of Southern California near the Mexican border.  The goal of the project was to throw light on the growing use of pesticides over large agricultural areas and their impact on human health, especially for those working in and around the fields. 

About the time the show was completed and first aired, California was invaded by the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly, which became front page news and raised the program’s profile.  Originally intended for local broadcast, it was quickly re-edited for national release by  PBS stations.  California’s Insect Wars won several awards in the USA and internationally,  for its frank examination of the dangers of pesticide exposure.  

Length: 60 minutes