NC farmers see increased produce sales as cyclosporiasis outbreak continues - WRAL
North Carolina residents are increasingly purchasing produce from local farmers' markets amid concerns over a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce. Health officials are currently investigating the source of the parasite.
Why it matters
Food-borne illness outbreaks impact consumer behavior and local agricultural economies, highlighting the importance of food safety supply chain transparency.
Shoppers are turning to locally grown produce sold at the State Farmer’s Market as health officials investigate the cyclosporiasis outbreak in North Carolina to find a source.
Friends Sissy Rodriguez and Taylor Catherine Fielding visited the farmer’s market on Sunday to buy fruits and vegetables instead of purchasing them from a grocery store.
“It makes me nervous, and I feel like I keep hearing different pieces of information about how dangerous it is or where it's coming from,” Rodriguez says about the food-borne illness.
According to the latest numbers from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, there are currently 307 cases of cyclosporiasis reported in North Carolina. There are 270 cases in Wake County.
The illness is caused by a parasite called cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that triggers unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms, including "explosive diarrhea."
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