As cyclospora fears grow, Ohio farmers markets are having a moment

The big picture: Trust is waning in the country's food safety system, which health experts say is weakened by years of underinvestment.

• Grocery store lettuce sales and visits to restaurants with veggie-heavy menus have slumped this summer amid concerns about the safety of large commercial suppliers.

Meanwhile, markets can't keep enough lettuce stocked to meet surging demand.

Zoom in: Many vendors report "selling out within 30-60 minutes of opening," Ohio Farmers Market Network executive director Sara Hill tells Axios.

• Hill manages the Garrettsville Farmers Market in Northeast Ohio, which has experienced a 127% increase in foot traffic compared to last July.
• It's hectic, she says, but "a really good problem to have."

What they're saying: Columbus-area markets are too busy to crunch the numbers, but managers told Hill they're seeing longer lines and sellouts.

• Farmers across the state are putting more seeds in the ground to try to keep up.

Reality check: Locally grown greens aren't immune from cyclospora. But since they undergo fewer supply-chain steps than commercial operations, there's generally less contamination risk.

• The current outbreak appears to be linked to iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico.

Between the lines: Columbus' prominent markets are "producer only," meaning vendors can only sell what they grow, Hill says.

• Those in charge often inspect farms to ensure transparency for consumers.

Plus: Techniques like hydroponic growing — outside of soil — can further reduce risks and allow local farmers to grow year-round.

The bottom line: "The public is starting to see farmers markets as essential places to not only purchase food, but connect with the people who grow it," Hill says.

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