NC farmers see increased produce sales as cyclosporiasis outbreak continues - WRAL

Shoppers in North Carolina are increasingly turning to locally grown produce at the State Farmer's Market amid an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, as health officials search for the contamination source.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports 307 cases of cyclosporiasis statewide, with 270 of those in Wake County. The illness is caused by cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that triggers severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
On Friday, Taylor Fresh Foods announced it is removing all iceberg lettuce from the US market, while the CDC warned against eating shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Consumers like Sissy Rodriguez and Taylor Catherine Fielding said they feel safer buying from local farms, citing seasonal, less-handled produce, though Rodriguez said she is avoiding lettuce and berries for now while considering items like watermelon safer.
Local farmers are benefiting from the shift, with Stephanie Moore of Moore's Produce in Meadows, NC, reporting increased sales of greens, lettuce, and kale, and expressing no concern about the parasite affecting her farm.
Officials note that produce from local growers involves limited handling, shorter travel distances, and fresher sales, all of which lower contamination risk, but pinpointing the outbreak's exact source remains difficult.