A version of the following article appeared in the July 22, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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As consumers rethink salads, Charlotte-area farmers, grocers and restaurants navigate growing concerns over produce safety; N.C. cases nearly double in a week
In the wake of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, more Charlotteans are buying produce from local farmers markets, like the Kings Drive Farmers Market pictured above. (Photo by Emily Brietz/The Charlotte Ledger)
When Cherie Jzar arrived at the Uptown Farmers Market last Saturday, she was bracing for the worst.
Following reports of a widespread parasite outbreak linked to produce, the Deep Roots CPS Farm co-founder expected shoppers to steer clear of fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead, she said customers flocked to her stand looking for produce they felt they could trust.
"We were bracing for just no sales at all," Jzar said. "And then things kind of changed a little bit ... people were saying, ‘We want local.’ We got a surge in the community calling, saying, ‘How can we shop with you? Where do we shop with you?’"
Since news of the cyclosporiasis outbreak gained traction over the past week, the effects have rippled throughout businesses in Charlotte and across the country, as consumers pull back from salads and start wondering about the safety of their food.
Grocery stores have pulled items from shelves. Some restaurants have experienced big drops in customers. And local farmers like Jzar say they hope the outbreak reinforces the value of local produce.
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