Over the past two months, the number of consumers buying locally grown produce has skyrocketed with the Cyclospora outbreak affecting grocery stores around the United States. Farmers’ markets and stores in the area offer many locally grown fruits and vegetables for residents who are looking for fresh options.

Weavers Way Co-op, with grocery stores in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Germantown and Ambler, as well as its farm market in Roxborough, offers shoppers the ability to stop in and grab groceries at their leisure.

“We have been able to source some peaches and nectarines from an orchard in Jersey — Fralinger — as well as a limited quantity of organic local blueberries from Pemberton, N.J., [called] ‘Mike’s Blueberries,’” said Mira Kilpatrick, the Weavers Way produce manager. “Local tomatoes are great right now, as well as cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, lettuces and cooking greens.”

For many shoppers, buying groceries every one to two weeks is a necessity. Providing a large variety of unprocessed food can give shoppers the opportunity to feel more at ease about what they are feeding themselves and their families.

Kilpatrick said that Weavers Way encourages its customers to inquire about any produce with which they are unfamiliar. From being unsure of what an item is or how to prepare it, to wanting to know where it was grown and harvested, the employees hope to keep customers informed and provide a comfortable and confident shopping experience.

“I believe what we put into our bodies matters a lot,” Kilpatrick said. “I think Weavers Way stands out in the variety and quality of produce items we offer, as well as the amount of local sourcing we do. When there are fears around foodborne illness and outbreaks, we have a lot of local options for folks.”

The Chestnut Hill Farmers Market also invites dozens of local vendors to sell different types of fresh produce and food to customers. The market runs year-round every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the bottom of the Hill, outside the Mermaid Inn, with shorter hours in the winter. Vendors such as Taproot Farm, Rineer Family Farm, Good Churn Creamery and Canter Hill Farm attend every week.

At their farmers market stand on a recent Saturday morning, Rineer Family Farm in Lancaster County showcased its in-season fruits and vegetables. Like Weavers Way, Rineer offers lots of produce fit for everyday meals and healthy snacks. With many farms mass producing similar crops, each vendor has its signature produce.

“Right now, sweet corn is one of the most popular, as well as blackberries and plums,” said Shelly, a Rineer employee who declined to give her last name. “Also, any kind of vegetable you can think of like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and peppers,” she said. Shelly added that because of the Cyclospora outbreak, they had seen an influx of customers asking for greens, but they didn’t have any because of the summer heat.

With grocery stores and packaged goods bringing unpredictability, she emphasized the benefit of knowing where your food is sourced. Not only are they hoping to provide customers with a consistent and enjoyable eating experience, but they value being able to put their minds at ease with their produce as well.

“I think it’s important to be connected to your food,” Shelly said. “Knowing where it’s coming from makes you appreciate it more, and it’s better for the environment and for the universe.”