In 1988, Cesar Chavez ended a 36-day fast to protest pesticide-related illnesses among California grape workers. Thirty-seven years later, California launched the nation’s first early-warning system for spraying toxic agricultural chemicals. The state logged over 2,500 pesticide-related illnesses between 2011-2021, prompting the new system. The SprayDays system provides transparent notifications about pesticide use. Community members celebrated this victory, emphasizing the importance of knowing about pesticides to protect farmworkers’ health. The system will give advance notice of pesticide applications to ensure safety.
