South Florida farmers encourage local food production amidst cyclosporiasis outbreak
Updated: 6:44 PM EDT Jul 14, 2026
Cyclosporiasis cases continue to increase nationwide.The latest data from the CDC says 34 states have reported cases, including Florida.Two cases have been reported in Palm Beach County.It’s top of mind for many, but especially farmers.“It’s a big concern. One of the problems in the vegetable business is you can’t put your product on the shelf and then come back and sell it a month later,” Rick Roth, the president of Roth Farms, said.Roth Farms, located in Belle Glade, produces large amounts of romaine lettuce sold primarily through the southeastern region of the country.He said 15 years ago, his farm created the leafy vegetables protocol, prohibiting the use of canal water for crops to prevent contamination from various viruses.“We haul from Belle Glade city water and we treat it. And then we put it in our ground rigs. And when we’re spraying, crop protection chemicals over our crops, insecticides, herbicides, things like that. It’s with treated water. So, we’re making sure that we’re not putting any canal water on any of our crops,” Roth said.The Associated Press reports that the number of cyclosporiasis infections has surpassed the national record mark of about 4,700 in 2019.The source has not yet been definitively identified, but the most cases have been reported in Michigan.“We’re now putting our product in a labeled bag. So, the labeled bag, for example, if you have E. coli coming from California and people are saying not to eat romaine, well then you need to eat romaine from Florida,” Roth said.WPBF 25 News also spoke with Darrin Swank, the owner of Swank Specialty Produce in Loxahatchee Groves.“It’s all about consuming local foods, knowing who your farmer is, getting to know that person, seeing how they produce, see if you like the way they produce. You could ask them questions if they’re standing right in front of you,” Swank said. He believes the way to reduce these cases of foodborne illness outbreaks is more local food production.“I know a lot of folks don’t like to hear that, but the more localized the food system going to be, the safer it’s going to be, because the folks that are producing it, like I said earlier, selling directly to the consumer. So, they’re going to make every step in every effort to make that clean food delivery,” Swank said.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
WELLINGTON, Fla. —
Cyclosporiasis cases continue to increase nationwide.
The latest data from the CDC says 34 states have reported cases, including Florida.
Two cases have been reported in Palm Beach County.
It’s top of mind for many, but especially farmers.
“It’s a big concern. One of the problems in the vegetable business is you can’t put your product on the shelf and then come back and sell it a month later,” Rick Roth, the president of Roth Farms, said.
Roth Farms, located in Belle Glade, produces large amounts of romaine lettuce sold primarily through the southeastern region of the country.
He said 15 years ago, his farm created the leafy vegetables protocol, prohibiting the use of canal water for crops to prevent contamination from various viruses.
“We haul from Belle Glade city water and we treat it. And then we put it in our ground rigs. And when we’re spraying, crop protection chemicals over our crops, insecticides, herbicides, things like that. It’s with treated water. So, we’re making sure that we’re not putting any canal water on any of our crops,” Roth said.
The Associated Press reports that the number of cyclosporiasis infections has surpassed the national record mark of about 4,700 in 2019.
The source has not yet been definitively identified, but the most cases have been reported in Michigan.
“We’re now putting our product in a labeled bag. So, the labeled bag, for example, if you have E. coli coming from California and people are saying not to eat romaine, well then you need to eat romaine from Florida,” Roth said.
WPBF 25 News also spoke with Darrin Swank, the owner of Swank Specialty Produce in Loxahatchee Groves.
“It’s all about consuming local foods, knowing who your farmer is, getting to know that person, seeing how they produce, see if you like the way they produce. You could ask them questions if they’re standing right in front of you,” Swank said.
He believes the way to reduce these cases of foodborne illness outbreaks is more local food production.
“I know a lot of folks don’t like to hear that, but the more localized the food system going to be, the safer it’s going to be, because the folks that are producing it, like I said earlier, selling directly to the consumer. So, they’re going to make every step in every effort to make that clean food delivery,” Swank said.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News