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MADEIRA, Ohio (WXIX) – The Madeira Farmers Market is underway, and local growers are seeing a major bump in produce sales as a massive nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak has left shoppers skeptical of buying lettuce from traditional grocery stores.
One local grower says leafy greens are flying off his shelves as people look for safe ways to eat fresh.
“It’s all locally grown. We raise everything we see here on our farm. And yeah, it’s awesome! People can come and see the face of who produced it,” farmer Ryan Callahan said.
That face-to-face connection is carrying extra weight this summer as a massive, multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to spread, sickening thousands.
Many cases have been linked to a recall of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, and that skepticism is driving a direct shift in where people buy their food.
“You can actually tell we’ve had an uptick in customers lately because yeah, like I said, you’re seeing where it’s coming from, you know where it’s coming from,” Callahan said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said other lettuce brands are safe, but with more than 11,000 cases still requiring analysis nationwide—including more than 2,500 in Ohio — shoppers aren’t taking chances. Instead, they’re choosing to put their trust and their dollars back into the community.
“You know it’s all local people, so uh, you know, you’re supporting uh, local business, not just produce but everybody else too,” Callahan said.
Non-recalled lettuce is safe, but locals say knowing the farmer brings the ultimate peace of mind.
The Madeira Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and runs until Oct. 29
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