After months of widespread illness across the nation, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention declared the cyclospora outbreak over on Friday. But after months of uncertainty and fear around consuming store-bought lettuce, some North Carolina residents might see benefit in growing their own produce instead of shopping from commercial chains.
Along with the cyclospora parasite’s contamination of iceberg, which caused 944 cases of diarrhea-inducing cyclosporiasis across the state since May and 570 hospitalizations across the nation, the CDC has announced several other notices about foodborne illnesses in recent months. Broccoli and alfalfa sprouts, frozen blueberries, jalapenos, and soft cheese products have been recalled across the country.
Food sourced from local gardens poses lower risks of contamination than commercial farms. Across North Carolina, gardeners and urban farmers grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other crops from the comfort of their own yards. Those without the required space often turn to community resources…