Don’t Buy Crappy Produce

Buying locally-grown produce at your farmers market is one of the best actions you can take for food safety to avoid cyclospora.

Small and medium-sized local farms have a much shorter supply chain than imported produce.

You may have heard reports of the cyclospora parasite causing serious gastrointestinal issues across people in more than half of U.S. states. The cause of this outbreak has not been identified, but cyclospora is usually linked to various types of imported fresh produce.  Previous outbreaks resulted from consuming pre-washed and bagged salad greens, along with herbs and raspberries grown internationally.

It’s statistically unlikely that produce sold at your local farmers market is causing nationwide foodborne illness. Food at AIM’s farmers markets travels, on average, fewer than 112 miles. Our small and medium-sized farms operate direct-to-consumer. No added supply chain logistics of warehousing, processing, and long-haul distribution. Fewer steps in the supply chain = less risk of parasitic infections.

Nobody wants diarrhea. Follow good food safety practices from the California Department of Public Health:

• Buy whole heads of lettuce from local farms instead of pre-washed bags. Toss the outer 2 to 3 layers and thoroughly wash the rest under running water.

• Thoroughly wash and scrub produce like berries and herbs, ideally by separating leaves and checking for hidden dirt.

• Cook leafy greens, berries, and herbs when possible, as heat is the most reliable way to kill the parasite.