As Cyclospora cases continue to rise across the United States, shoppers from Kentucky to Michigan are increasingly flocking to local farmers' markets, believing that locally grown produce offers greater safety than supermarket offerings. However, food safety experts caution that the answer is not so straightforward, and that the level of risk depends heavily on the specific practices of individual farms and vendors.
Kalmia Kniel, a professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, told TIME that produce bought directly from the farmer who grew it is likely lower risk. "If you are getting produce directly from the farmer who grew it, I would consider that lower risk," she said. The reasoning is that such produce typically travels a shorter distance and passes through fewer hands, reducing opportunities for contamination. Darin Detwiler, an associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University, echoed this view, noting that locally grown produce often has a shorter supply chain, which can offer more transparency about growing conditions. Detwiler said he personally prefers farmers' markets and always asks vendors where the produce comes from, how far it traveled, and when it was harvested. He prefers produce grown within about 30 miles and sold within two days of harvest.
But other experts warn that farmers' markets are not automatically safer. Rodney E. Rohde, chair of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, said that while many consumers perceive farmers' market produce as safer, there is little scientific evidence to support that assumption. "The risk of contamination really depends on how it was grown, harvested, transported and stored, rather than where it is sold," he explained. Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University, pointed out that Cyclospora contamination often occurs when human sewage contaminates irrigation water. Therefore, a farm's water quality and growing practices are critical, regardless of the farm's size or location. Don Schaffner, a food science expert at Rutgers University, added that small farmers may lack the resources available to large operations for implementing rigorous food safety protocols.
The current Cyclospora outbreak has prompted heightened concern among consumers. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which can be contracted by eating contaminated fresh produce. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fatigue, and can last for weeks if untreated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking the outbreak, which has been linked to several types of fresh produce, though specific sources have not always been identified.
Despite the risks, food safety experts emphasize that people should not stop eating fruits and vegetables. "Don't quit eating fruits and vegetables," Rohde urged. Instead, consumers can take practical steps to reduce their risk. Bill Marler, a prominent food safety lawyer, recommends buying whole, intact heads of lettuce and whole fruits and vegetables rather than bagged, pre-cut, or boxed produce. Centralized processing such as chopping and mixing can spread contamination from a small amount of contaminated produce to a larger batch, he explained. Thorough washing under running water is also advised, along with scrubbing hard-skinned items like melons and cucumbers. Cooking produce to an internal temperature of at least 158°F can kill Cyclospora, and Rohde noted that he has been cooking most of his vegetables and washing produce "more vigorously than usual."
Ultimately, both farmers' markets and grocery stores can offer safe produce if proper handling practices are followed. Experts advise consumers to be proactive: ask vendors about their farming practices, choose whole produce over pre-cut items, and maintain good kitchen hygiene. As the Cyclospora outbreak evolves, awareness and careful food handling remain the best defenses against foodborne illness.
