KCETs Award-Winning Weekly Series SoCal Connected Takes an Inside Look at the Growing Interest in Insects as Food and How Bug Farms and Restaurants are Meeting the Demand

BURBANK, CA - August 7, 2014 - SOCAL CONNECTED, KCETs Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series looks at the increasing popularity of insects as a source of protein for humans. Reporter Derrick Shore tries cricket tacos at a Mexican restaurant and visits the Rainbow Mealworms Farm in Compton where a billion worms and other insects are raised and shipped out to feed reptiles, and more recently, humans. SOCAL CONNECTED also talks to a U.C. Riverside entomologist who says the ecological advantages of eating insects are plentiful, but that society will need to overcome cultural barriers to feed a global population expected to climb to nine billion by 2050. Based on webHYPERLINK http://www.kcet.org/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?tag=bugs%20as%20food&limit=20 stories from KCET Food.

The story airs on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 8 p.m.

This weeks SOCAL CONNECTED also features:

Resurrecting a Damaged Cultural Landmark - South L.A. is not known for its historic landmarks, but a church on the corner of Compton and 49th Ave. was the only church designed by famed L.A. architect Rudolph Schindler. Vandalism and neglect made this house of worship uninhabitable until a pastor, unfamiliar with Schindlers work, brought the damaged property back to life for his congregation and Schindler aficionados. Based on a story from KCETs Artbound.

Modern-Day Gold Panners - The Gold Rush may be history, but there are still ambitious people panning for gold along the banks of the San Gabriel River. How much do they find? Is it worth the effort? Reporter Judy Muller catches a bit of gold fever as she joins these 21st century prospectors.

Hummingbirds in Slow Motion - Videographer Tom Tanquary aimed his camera at two baby hummingbirds in a nest near his back door. The result is mesmerizing slow motion footage of a mother nurturing her young from birth to an empty nest.

Broadcast Premiere Date: Wednesday, August 13 at 8 p.m.

Repeated: Friday, August 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m.

SOCAL CONNECTED is anchored by 15-time Emmy -Award winner, Val Zavala. Contributors include science journalist Cara Santa Maria, reporters Derrick Shore and Jennifer Sabih, documentary filmmaker Nic Cha Kim and writer Nick Hardcastle.

The television broadcast executive producer for SOCAL CONNECTED is Val Zavala; digital executive producer is Zach Behrens; and Linda Burns is senior producer.

ABOUT SOCAL CONNECTED

SOCAL CONNECTED, winner of a Peabody and two duPont Awards, 23 Emmy Awards, 24 Golden Mikes, 48 LA Press Club Awards, two Gracie Awards, and four regional and one national Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazines Best New Local TV Program of 2009, airs exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave comments, please visit www.socalconnected.org. SOCAL CONNECTED is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation, Chapman University and the MaddocksBrown Foundation.

ABOUT KCET

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 50-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and childrens programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET is a service of KCETLink.

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