Oct 11, 2011

Rocky Ford cantaloupe growers reeling from “”listeria hysteria””

Roy Allen drove down from Wyoming, as he does every year on his way to a family reunion in Texas, and pulled into Smith’s Corner, one of the few produce stands still open in early October.

“What’s the deal?” asked the 72-year-old former truck driver.

Owner Greg Smith knew that Allen wasn’t just bargain hunting. He wanted the lowdown on the listeria outbreak that, so far, has been blamed for at least 21 deaths nationwide and inflicted collateral damage on the reputation of renowned Rocky Ford cantaloupe.

“We really don’t know, exactly,” Smith replied. The Denver Post

Read more of the story here.