Feeling cyclospora paranoia? Go for farm-to-table.
As cyclospora cases keep climbing, even the least squeamish shoppers may be giving fresh produce the side-eye. In just two weeks since Wake County started tracking the numbers, the local case count has increased to 435—a difference that feels startling, especially while national case estimates inch upwards.*
But before you swear off summer berries, the cure for produce paranoia might be just around the corner—literally.
According to the NC Cooperative Extension, now’s a good time to turn to local produce—which often skips the longer supply chains that have been linked to large-scale outbreaks. Better yet, it usually comes with a friendly face who can answer questions about how it’s grown, giving you that extra peace of mind when you make your purchase.
So grab your reusable tote and reroute your Sunday grocery run via eight Raleigh spots where fresh, local produce is always in season.
State Farmers Market An oldie but a goodie, the State Farmers Market is a must-stop for everything from newly-picked fruits—think peaches, blueberries and blackberries—to just about any staple veggie. The best part: Vendors grow 50% to 100% of offerings themselves, but those who supplement their stands must source from approved local growers. With farms repping from across NC, it’s the classic spot for stocking up on fresh finds. Where: 1201 Agriculture St. When: Sundays, 8am–5pm; Mondays–Saturdays, 5am–7pm
Midtown Farmers’ Market Midtowners and shopaholics, this one’s for you. The Midtown Farmers’ Market, held at the Commons in North Hills, brings together local farmers, makers and food producers for a convenient dose of seasonal produce close to home. With every vendor listed on its website, shoppers can put a face to the farm—and know, per the Market’s guidelines, that each pick is grown exclusively by its seller. Where: 4160 Main at North Hills St. When: Saturdays, 8am–12pm
Black Farmers’ Market Championing Black farmers, growers and food entrepreneurs, the Black Farmers’ Market offers fresh local produce that directly supports a more equitable food system in the Triangle. While it rotates to Durham on 1st & 3rd Sundays, the Cap City plays host the other two weeks of the month. Rain or shine (and they mean it!), Raleighites can shop fruits, veggies and nuts produced directly by the farms selling them. Where: 1436 Rock Quarry Road When: 2nd and 4th Sundays, 1–4pm
Raleigh City Farm’s Farmstand This urban stop proves produce doesn’t have to travel far. The “pay what you can” farmstand is located on the very same lot their produce is grown on. Not only does their harvest menu rotate weekly, but they’re very transparent about their growing practices—meaning the most even type A Raleighites can get an education and groceries in one stop. Where: 800 N. Blount St. When: Wednesdays, 4–7pm
Porter Farms and Nursery’s Farm Market Farm-to-table doesn’t get much more literal than this. Family-owned Porter Farms & Nursery has been growing fruits, veggies and flowers south of Raleigh for decades—and thanks to its two roadside farm markets, you can shop straight from the source. From seasonal picks like corn, tomatoes and okra to you-pick options in the spring and fall, consider this stall your excuse to take the scenic route home. Where: 7615 Ten-Ten Road When: Sundays–Fridays, 9am–7pm; Saturdays, 8am–7pm
Weaver Street Market Can’t squeeze a produce-only run into your week? Weaver Street Market has Downtown workaholics and residents covered. The community-owned co-op partners with NC farmers whenever possible, stocking fresh veg alongside your everyday grocery staples. While you won’t be chatting with the grower at the register, you can still look up the local farms behind what you’re buying—and keep your shopping cart close to home. Where: 404 W. Hargett St. When: Sundays–Saturdays, 8am–9pm
Here’s what to know—and do—about the microscopic, diarrhea-causing parasite.
As one Raleighite warned online: “It’s official: watery, explosive diarrhea has hit the Raleigh area.”
That resident is referring to cyclosporiasis—the illness that’s on everyone’s tongue right now. Like bird flu and measles, it’s not new on the contractable-disease roster. But what is new is the multistate outbreak that’s causing some consumers to shun summer produce.
According to the CDC, 1,645 domestically-acquired cases have been confirmed across the country.* And while North Carolinians are faring better than our Midwest neighbors in Michigan—who are experiencing the brunt of the outbreak—things are pretty, well, crappy around these parts.
As of July 20, Wake County was bearing the brunt of North Carolina’s outbreak, accounting for 295 of the state’s 307 confirmed cases and five of its 14 hospitalizations—helping propel NC to No. 3 in the nation for reported cases.
WakeMed Urgent Care Medical Director Dr. Christopher Chao, who has been practicing medicine in the Triangle for 20-plus years, doesn’t recall seeing cyclosporiasis in his clinics before this summer—even during the past two years, when the case numbers saw a similar spike.
But by July 13, that had changed. “I had eight patients come in asking for diarrhea Cyclospora testing,” he shares. “I tested about a third of them, and I know one of them was negative and one of them was positive. But prior to this week, I was four for four.”
Dr. Chao says that Cyclospora, the microscopic parasite that gives the illness its name, causes one hallmark symptom: “persistent, multiple bouts of watery diarrhea, lasting 10 to 12 days or longer.” Others include stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and more.
In the U.S., Cyclospora typically gets around via infected food or water. Historic culprits include fresh herbs, berries and leafy veggies—all key players in most people’s diet. Bagged, precut greens can also carry it—which has turned out to be the source of a recently identified five-state cluster, per the CDC. However, in NC, the exact source is still unknown.*
So, does that mean it’s time to avoid the produce aisle like the plague—literally?
Dr. Chao, along with Dr. Ryan Lamb, medical director of UNC Health REX’s emergency department, share the same answer: No. At least, not for most.
Why? Dr. Lamb points to the non-lethal nature of cyclosporiasis. “It doesn’t tend to be invasive or cause severe infections,” he explains. “It’s just going to chronically deplete you of the nutrients and the volume you need, and so when that keeps happening, you get sicker. But when you see people being admitted, it’s usually going to be as a result of them having some other condition.”
For those immunocompromised people, Dr. Chao gets skipping on the salad mixes or other high-risk produce. But to others, he simply suggests the “common, basic precautions”—like keeping your food refrigerated, aggressively washing produce and cooking meals to the appropriate internal temperature.
“It’s a very low incidence of people that have this illness,” Dr. Lamb points out—read: 295 confirmed cases in Wake County compared to the 1.26 million people living here.* Though now might be a good time, he says, to check out a local farmers market, where he believes cases are less likely to be coming from. And if you do start to experience that watery, explosive diarrhea: “we can take care of you if you get sick, and you’ll be fine.”
Local photographer brings Piedmont wine culture to the page.
File under: a robust read. What started as a Raleigh-rooted wine obsession now spans two volumes and 1,000 pages. After years of travel and research in Piedmont (and shaping the wine program at Figulina), local photographer Jeff Bramwell is bottling it all into On the Road in Piemonte With Winemakers, Farmers & Chefs, out this July.
Less textbook, more travelogue, Bramwell’s debut dives into Piedmont’s culinary culture through the people behind it—winemakers, farmers and chefs—exploring everything from the region’s craft and cuisine to hyperlocal traditions.
“Italy always gets short-changed in wine books compared to France—and Piedmont especially,” says Bramwell. “There is just a massive, massive wealth of stuff that I didn’t think was getting the credit and attention it deserved.”
The castle of Serralunga d’Alba | Photo by Jeff BramwellOsteria Veglio in the town of La Morra | Photo by Jeff Bramwell
Each chapter is framed around a theme or story, with Bramwell stepping back as observer—letting the voices of the region shape the narrative. Many focus on defining threads, whether it’s a winemaker bringing back a grape that almost went extinct or stories deeply tied to a family’s DNA, he explains.
Layer in his photography of the wine, cuisine and countryside, and the result is equal parts visual feast and cultural archive.
For Raleigh readers, it’s not just aspirational—it’s actionable. With 85 recipes and plenty of ingredient-driven context, the deep dive doubles as a guide to thinking more intentionally about what’s on your plate (and in your glass) at home.
Consider it a love letter to the Italian way of life—delivered one story and one sip at a time. @piemontebook
Defined by quiet family homes and strolling NC State students, Clark Avenue is typically a calm connector between the Hillsborough Street Corridor and Downtown. But the familiar scene was upended last November when NC State University assistant professor Dr. Natalia Duque-Wilckens was struck and killed by a vehicle at the Pogue Street intersection.
Her tragic death wasn’t swept under the rug—and she hasn’t been the only one affected by Clark Avenue’s risk. Raleigh police data has logged hundreds of crashes along the road over the years, with at least 100 occurring since 2023.* While just one death has resulted from those crashes since at least 2015, the number of reported injuries has held steady.
Now, the City is stepping in—installing four-way stops at key Clark Avenue intersections to improve pedestrian safety and help curb pedestrian fatalities. The move follows one resident’s request for an analysis of three intersections on Clark Avenue in the wake of Duque-Wilckens’ death. According to Will Shumaker at the Raleigh Transportation Department, that single complaint submitted to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program immediately triggered a review of the corridor.
Before the request was submitted in February, students and community members promptly launched a local campaign to install better safety infrastructure along the pedestrian-heavy residential road. A subsequent petition drew over 1,200 signatures from residents concerned for pedestrians not just around NC State, but across the city.
Just over a month later, the engineering evaluation wrapped and their recommendation reached City Council—by March 17, it was official. The stops went live at Clark Avenue’s intersections with Pogue, Horne and Chamberlain streets a week later. The takeaway: It only takes one request to trigger a review—and there are multiple ways to make the city take notice of a local issue.
For residents looking to push for changes, early outreach matters—and is encouraged, says Shumaker. “Many neighborhoods hold discussions internally, but no formal request is made until someone takes the lead to contact the City. Starting that conversation is often the key to initiating meaningful change.”
City Council also hosts public commentary during meetings, but if you miss the call time—or aren’t apt to public speaking—voicemails are accepted Thursday through Monday prior.
Additionally, Raleighites can report a traffic problem in their area or request a traffic calming project via the Transportation Improvement Request portal. Drop a virtual pin on the location of the issue, attach a picture if needed and describe the nature of the problem—plus a possible solution.
Any resident can be the catalyst. Your input matters, and the City has the tools to act on it.
Raleigh’s first bathhouse debuts Downtown—as bathhouse culture sweeps the nation.
Suggest a trip to a bathhouse in the U.S., and you’ll likely get mixed reactions. Some picture a sweaty room teeming with strangers (cue Naked and Afraid)—but for a growing number of others, a communal sauna and soak is part of a weekly ritual.
Once considered a European or Asian tradition, communal bathhouses are modernizing—and slowly entering the wellness landscape. At their core, these spaces revolve around contrast therapy: cycling between hot saunas and icy plunges to boost circulation, recovery and relaxation.
But the real draw isn’t just physical. It’s social. In cities like New York, San Francisco and Chicago, bathhouses have become gathering spots—places people unplug, unwind and spend time together without the pressure of bars or nightlife.
Now Raleigh is dipping its toe in the water. In March, NC-based Sauna House opened its fourth location in the state—and its seventh overall. Unlike SweatHouz—another local sauna- and cold plunge-based space—Sauna House Raleigh’s core service is the community bathhouse—emphasis on community, says co-owner James Grogan.
“In the normal spots, you get tucked away and have your private little oasis,” he explains. “Whereas, if you came here, we could be sitting here together, having just met—and so that’s part of the charm we’re really leaning into.”
The space is designed to encourage that interaction. While the saunas and cold plunges remain the centerpiece of Sauna House’s Nordic contrast therapy, the first thing guests encounter isn’t the heat or ice—it’s a circle of recessed benches arranged to face one another, encouraging conversation before and between sessions. As such, one of the two communal sauna rooms is deliberately brighter and warmer to invite conversation, while nearby lounge seating gives guests space to linger between plunges.
With mental and physical health at its core, bathhouses are part of a post-pandemic wellness wave that shows no signs of slowing. In 2024 alone, the U.S. sauna market generated $255.5 million in revenue—and analysts project it will climb to $415.4 million by 2033.
And it’s a market modern bathhouses are primed to tap. Aside from health benefits like improved circulation, metabolism activation and muscle recovery, bathhouses provide a place to unplug, unwind—and even socialize without pressure.
But it’s the communal element that’s fueling the bathhouse boom nationwide. As younger generations rethink nightlife and wellness, many are searching for places to gather where they can form real friendships and that feel healthier—and more intentional—than bars.
That’s the experience Grogan and his wife, co-owner Kady Brotherton, first encountered as regulars at the original Sauna House in Asheville. Now he hopes to bring that same ritual to Raleigh.
“Raleigh is very wellness-focused,” says Grogan. “I see more run and cycling clubs, yoga studios. People are looking for a place to relax—and [that] comes together in this space to give them a place to get away from it all.”
For the Southeast, Sauna House’s expansion signals something larger: a once-European tradition is no longer niche. It’s becoming a hub for community, wellness and a different kind of social ritual—one session at a time.
