The Overlooked Solution to Cyclospora Outbreaks

By Hannah Wallace and Sarah Weiner 

[A shorter version of this Op-Ed ran in The Progressive on Aug. 26th.]

The latest outbreak that that has sickened more than 27,000 people in forty-seven states, sending over 400 people to the hospital and two to an untimely death, is the largest cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history. It is also one of the worst foodborne outbreaks in recent years. 

The CDC has traced the parasite to iceberg lettuce grown at Taylor Farms de Mexico, a part of Taylor Farms—a conglomerate that produces 40 percent of all salad kits sold in U.S. groceries. Company officials haven’t disclosed to the FDA—or to reporters—all the places its lettuce has been sold and shipped to; corporate supply chains are considered trade secrets. But we do know that the contaminated lettuce was distributed to Taco Bells as well as to Walmart, and to at least one hospital cafeteria. 

Many are blaming the Trump administration for decimating the CDC, and that critique is warranted. But with our combined 4 decades-plus writing about local food systems and working for the leading nonprofits in the food movement, we’ve noticed the recent news coverage is missing one crucial point: Consumers have the power to limit the impact of this and future outbreaks. All they have to do is buy from local farmers.

Our CSA share from Gathering Together Farms

Sometimes the industrial food system feels inescapable—we’re awash in big box stores, grocery store chains, and fast food restaurants. But locally-grown food is more widely accessible than many people realize. In 2025, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison found that 80 percent of Americans shop at farmers markets at least once a year. There are 8,700 farmers markets in this country. Surprisingly, that’s over 50 percent more than the 5,206 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the U.S. in 2024. 

Though local produce can cost slightly more, especially if it’s organic, eating local is not—as often portrayed—an elitist practice of the wealthy. Gathering Together Farms in Philomath, Oregon, where we buy our lettuce, provides enough vegetables for a family of four in its community supported agriculture (CSA) program for a cost of $12 per person per week. Over 40 percent of farmers markets nationally accept SNAP-EBT—and almost all of those offer matching programs like Double Up Food Bucks. 

Though Gathering Together is one of the larger organic vegetable farms in Oregon, it still only sells at six farmers markets and provides 400 CSA boxes a week. Compare this to the 265 million servings of salad and vegetables produced by Taylor Farms each week, and you begin to understand the vast risk differential in eating lettuce from these two different sources.

Inspiring further confidence in local farms is the relative ease of getting direct information from them. With one phone call, we learned the fields our lettuce is grown on are irrigated by Marys River, which has never been contaminated by sewage. At its summer peak, we learned, the farm has a mere 20 people on its crew at a time, with a designated employee monitoring the many hand-washing stations throughout the fields.

During the pandemic, with factories and massive farms shuttered, many of us had to re-learn how to eat locally. During that time, farmers markets and CSAs saw a 35% increase of shoppers according to one survey. In fact, in 2021, over $100 million in federal nutrition benefits were redeemed via purchasing directly from farmers. Restaurants and grocery stores were also forced to seek out local purveyors of everything from pasta to seafood—or have empty shelves. In other words, living this way—buying food that’s grown nearby—is not only possible in the modern age, but a smart security measure in a world with increasingly frequent supply chain disruptions—from variability in tariff and oil prices to blockades, fires, and extreme weather events.

The fact is, most Americans can buy directly from farmers if they make the effort. Finding one—or a CSA—is as easy as searching on Local Harvest or the USDA’s Local Food Portal. And though you may not always be able to find local lettuce year-round, you can substitute other veggies that are in season. Take a tip from Tennessee farmer Michael Washburn who points out that there are plenty of greens—arugula, beet greens, and cabbage—that are delicious as salads or on tacos. “There’s plenty of fresh veggies that you can use when lettuce isn’t available locally,” Washburn tells us. “You can make a salad out of okra or parsley!”  

Eating locally is also the path to reviving rural America. The latest USDA data shows that American farmers receive only 12 cents of every dollar when selling to a distributor for far-off consumption. When you buy directly, though, farmers receive upwards of 90 cents on the dollar, according to data from the Farmers Market Coalition. Farmers who sell directly to consumers via markets or CSAs also experience lower rates of farm business failure or bankruptcy. All of us—from MAHA Republicans to progressive urban foodies—can get behind this.  

Can you participate in the regional food system when eating at restaurants? It’s easier in big cities where the mantra of local and organic has been embraced by chefs across the food-world spectrum—from food carts to high-end restaurants. But there are affordable restaurants that source locally all across the country. Burgerville in the Northwest, Local Foods in Texas, and Farm Burger in the Southeast are just three examples. Taken together, they operate 55 locations in eight states. Finding restaurants that source local ingredients is easier in some places than others. A good first stop is the Buy Fresh, Buy Local directory or your local Slow Food chapter's website. (Some chapters are kept more up-to-date than others.) Or simply google “How to find local food in [Insert city or state here]" and follow the thread. If all else fails, chat up a farmer at one of those 8,700 farmers markets and find out which restaurants they sell to. 

We realize not everyone will stop patronizing Taco Bell—or buying their salad kits from Costco or Walmart. And to be sure, there are still food deserts in this country—places where it’s hard to find nutritious, fresh, affordable food. (According to the USDA, 6-13% of Americans live in one.) But even a small shift towards buying local vegetables could help contain outbreaks like the one we’re currently facing. And that’s a much better way to go than the method many people are now adopting: swearing off healthy veggies altogether. A recent CBS News poll showed that 40 percent of Americans were buying less produce as a result of the current cyclospora outbreak.

We shouldn't have to avoid vegetables to avoid pathogens. Seek out local farmers, or restaurants that buy their produce from them. You’ll be less likely to become a statistic in a major outbreak while also shifting food dollars back into rural America. 

Hannah Wallace is a Portland-based journalist who is working on a book about regenerative agriculture.

Sarah Weiner, founder of the Good Food Awards, recently launched Project Americana, which brings rural and urban eaters together to forge a food system that serves everyone.