Michigan Cyclospora Outbreak: What It Means for Bonz Beach Farms Fresh Produce
Cyclospora, Fresh Produce, and What It Means for Bonz Beach Farms
Updated July 15, 2026
Over the past few weeks, Michigan has experienced a significant outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
We know news like this can be alarming—especially when lettuce, salad greens, and other fresh produce are being discussed as possible sources. We have received questions from customers about our Fresh Spring Mix, where it comes from, how it is handled, and whether it has been connected to the outbreak.
We want to provide the clearest and most honest information we currently have.
What Is Happening in Michigan?
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan had reported 2,640 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 13, 2026.
The investigation remains ongoing. Current findings point toward lettuce or salad greens as a potential source, although other foods have not been completely ruled out.
Most importantly, health officials have not identified a specific type of produce, grower, farm, supplier, brand, or distributor as the source of the outbreak.
Customers can follow the latest investigation through the official MDHHS Cyclosporiasis Outbreak page.
What Is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis.
People generally become infected after consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite. Common symptoms may include:
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Frequent or watery diarrhea
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Loss of appetite
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Weight loss
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Stomach cramps
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Bloating
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Increased gas
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Nausea
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Fatigue
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Fever in some cases
Symptoms may begin approximately one to two weeks after exposure and can persist or return if the infection is not treated.
You can read more about the parasite, symptoms, testing, and treatment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Anyone experiencing concerning or persistent symptoms should contact a qualified healthcare provider.
Where Does Bonz Beach Farms’ Fresh Spring Mix Come From?
Our popular Fresh Spring Mix is grown by Bear Creek Organic Farm in Petoskey, Michigan.
Fresh Spring Mix is delivered from Bear Creek Organic Farm to Bonz Beach Farms approximately every two weeks. Each harvest is triple-washed before it is packaged.
Bear Creek Organic Farm is a small, local farm serving its surrounding Northern Michigan community. It does not operate like a massive nationwide distributor moving lettuce through multiple states, warehouses, processors, and retail chains.
You can learn more about the farm at the Bear Creek Organic Farm website or visit its Petoskey farm market information page.
Why Bear Creek Organic Farm Addressed the Outbreak
Bear Creek Organic Farm recently provided an especially thorough explanation of the outbreak and how it affects a local lettuce grower.
The farm identified three major reasons for addressing the situation:
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Its team has received an overwhelming number of calls, messages, emails, and in-person questions from concerned customers.
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Locally grown food provides a more transparent and decentralized alternative to enormous national food-distribution systems.
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The sudden increase in demand for locally grown lettuce is much greater than the farm’s current crops were planted to accommodate.
These points help explain both the benefits and the limitations of a small, local food system.
Local Farms and National Food Outbreaks
Produce sold through national supply chains may pass through growers, processors, packaging facilities, warehouses, distribution centers, wholesalers, transportation companies, and retailers before reaching a customer.
When contamination occurs somewhere within a large system, produce can potentially be distributed across many communities or states before the problem is discovered.
A small local farm has a much narrower and more traceable distribution area.
Bear Creek Organic Farm reports that approximately 99.9% of its produce is sold directly from its own farm. It does not supply major national or regional chains such as Taco Bell, Meijer, Kroger, or Whole Foods.
That does not mean locally grown produce is automatically immune from every possible food-safety problem. No responsible grower or retailer can honestly promise that any raw agricultural product carries zero risk.
It does mean the food travels through a much smaller, more transparent system—and that customers can ask direct questions about where it was grown, who grew it, how it was handled, and how far it traveled.
Bear Creek Organic Farm’s Lettuce Demand Has Increased Dramatically
The outbreak has caused a sudden surge in demand for locally grown lettuce.
Bear Creek Organic Farm reported selling more than 700 bags of lettuce beginning Friday, July 3, within just a few days of the outbreak receiving widespread attention.
The farm is grateful for the support, but its lettuce supply was planted weeks before anyone knew that a major outbreak would lead to such an extraordinary increase in demand.
Bear Creek typically plants approximately 8,000 lettuce plants every week.
However, lettuce cannot be planted and harvested immediately. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, Bear Creek’s lettuce generally requires approximately seven to nine weeks between planting and harvest.
The farm already has multiple future plantings growing, with approximately seven additional weekly plantings following the current crop. Those plantings are deliberately staggered so that fresh lettuce becomes available on a consistent schedule.
Unfortunately, crops already growing cannot simply be accelerated because demand suddenly increases.
Planting substantially more lettuce now would not solve an immediate July shortage. Instead, it could leave the farm with an oversupply in September, when the current outbreak-related demand may have subsided.
This is one of the realities of farming: growers must make planting decisions weeks or months before they know exactly what customers will need.
Why Bear Creek May Limit Lettuce Bag Sizes
To help its available lettuce reach more local families, Bear Creek Organic Farm announced that it may temporarily limit lettuce sales to its five-ounce bag size.
The goal is not to create unnecessary scarcity. It is to prevent a smaller number of customers from purchasing the majority of the available harvest while other regular customers go without.
Even though Bear Creek plants thousands of lettuce plants every week, no small farm can instantly increase production by five or ten times when demand changes overnight.
Bonz Beach Farms may also experience limited quantities or temporary sellouts as availability changes.
We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Other Fresh, Local Options
Lettuce is not the only way to enjoy fresh produce during the summer.
Bear Creek Organic Farm has also harvested its first July spinach crop in the farm’s history. Fresh spinach can provide another option for customers looking for locally grown greens.
Summer is also an excellent time to enjoy salads built around seasonal vegetables rather than lettuce, including:
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Tomatoes and cucumbers
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Cucumbers, onions, and herbs
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Zucchini ribbons
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Yellow summer squash
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Radishes
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Fresh beets
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Tomato and zucchini combinations
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Cucumber and tomato salads
Bonz Beach Farms carries a changing selection of locally grown and farm-fresh produce throughout the season. Availability will always depend on weather, planting schedules, harvest timing, and customer demand.
Should You Wash Fresh Produce?
Yes. We recommend washing fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing or consuming them, regardless of where they were purchased.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends:
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Washing your hands with soap and water before and after handling produce.
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Rinsing produce under plain, running water.
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Gently rubbing fruits and vegetables while rinsing.
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Scrubbing firm produce with a clean vegetable brush.
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Removing damaged or bruised areas.
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Drying produce with a clean cloth or paper towel when appropriate.
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Keeping produce separate from raw meat, poultry, seafood, and their juices.
The FDA does not recommend washing produce with soap, detergent, bleach, or household cleaning products.
It is important to understand that washing produce can reduce dirt and some contaminants, but it does not guarantee the complete removal of Cyclospora. The CDC notes that Cyclospora can be difficult to remove completely through washing alone.
Additional prevention information is available from the CDC’s Cyclospora prevention guidance.
Has Bear Creek Organic Farm Been Identified as the Source?
No.
As of July 15, 2026, neither Bear Creek Organic Farm nor Bonz Beach Farms has been identified by health officials as the source of the Michigan outbreak.
MDHHS has not identified any specific farm, grower, supplier, brand, distributor, or exact produce item as the confirmed source.
Our Fresh Spring Mix is grown locally in Petoskey, delivered directly to us approximately every two weeks, and triple-washed before packaging.
We will continue following information from MDHHS, the CDC, the FDA, Bear Creek Organic Farm, and other appropriate authorities. Should any official advisory directly affect a product we carry, we will communicate that information promptly and transparently.
Why Supporting Local Farms Matters
Events like this demonstrate why local farms are so important to their communities.
Buying locally allows customers to:
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Know where their food was grown.
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Communicate directly with farmers and retailers.
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Ask questions about growing and handling practices.
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Reduce the distance food travels.
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Support local employment and agriculture.
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Keep more food dollars within the regional economy.
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Help build a more resilient, decentralized food system.
Local farms cannot always match the enormous volume of national suppliers. They plant based on expected local demand, available acreage, weather, labor, and the natural amount of time crops need to grow.
When demand suddenly increases, locally grown produce may sell out. That is not necessarily a sign that the local food system has failed. It is evidence that a real farm has a finite harvest that cannot be manufactured or replaced overnight.
Regular, year-round support allows small farms to plant more confidently, invest in infrastructure, employ more people, and increase future production.
Our Commitment to You
At Bonz Beach Farms, we believe transparency matters.
We will never pretend that questions about food safety are unreasonable. We will also avoid making guarantees that no farmer, retailer, or public-health professional could responsibly make.
What we can promise is that we will:
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Tell you where our produce comes from.
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Share what we know.
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Be honest about what remains unknown.
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Follow official public-health information.
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Communicate relevant changes as quickly as possible.
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Answer your questions to the best of our ability.
We are grateful for the trust you place in Bonz Beach Farms and the local farmers who help supply our market.
Questions?
We are always happy to answer questions about our produce, farm, market, or maple products.
Email: bonzbeachfarm@gmail.com
Call or text: 844-321-BONZ
Additional Resources
Bonz Beach Farms and Bear Creek Organic Farm are agricultural businesses, not public-health agencies or medical providers. This article is intended to explain our sourcing and share publicly available information. It should not replace medical advice or official public-health guidance. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a qualified healthcare provider.