A dazzling documentary film on Colorado River water challenges - co-sponsored by the Family Farm Alliance - will be broadcast on PBS stations across the country, beginning in April.
The desert valleys of Yuma, Imperial and Coachella produce 90 percent of the winter vegetables consumed in the U.S. Farmers in the arid southwest depend on Colorado River water delivered downstream from Hoover Dam. In the face of unprecedented scarcity, these desert valleys are in a race to conserve and innovate. America’s food security is at risk.
“The Green Desert” documents how this agricultural linchpin is looking to find a way to survive. The film also benefits from the various farmers and environmental specialists featured throughout.
Beginning April 2, PBS will begin airing this film in Los Angeles. Additional airdates in April will be shown in markets served by PBS in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Orlando, Green Bay – Appleton (WI), Roanoke-Lynchburg (VA), Madison (WI), Yakima (WA), La Crosse-Eau Claire (WI), Wausau-Rhinelander (WI) and Erie (PA).
“I recently saw a documentary film about western water issues that shocked me because it was NOT biased against farmers and food production,” said Professor Daniel Sumner, Frank H. Buck, Jr. Distinguished Professor at University of California, Davis. “This sort of information from the grower's point of view almost never gets to the broad public media and especially not to outlets like PBS.”
CLICK HERE for a list of airdates on those PBS stations. The upcoming shows are now streaming on the PBS app.
Leo Zahn, who directed this film, presented it at a screening event following the February 2024 Family Farm Alliance annual conference in Reno, Nevada.
The film features interviews with the late Pat O’Toole, long-time Alliance President, and other players in the Colorado River water arena. O’Toole’s closing remarks are the last made in the film.
“The documentary is effective because it shows the farmers hard at work harvesting various crops, including alfalfa, dates, and lettuce, which raises the stakes even higher,” said Kevin Hall with Video Librarian. “It’s bad enough that these farmers are facing overwhelming odds with climate change. Seeing their hard work and dedication, along with the startling fact that ninety percent of the country’s winter vegetables are produced in this region, makes it really hit home for the viewer.”
CLICK HERE for Mr. Hall’s full review of the film.
CLICK HERE for the 2-minute trailer on the film’s website.
The era of limits has been reached. We are at a crossroads. The future of the American West will be shaped by the choices we make.