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• Regulators cracking down on cantaloupe farmers

  February 26, 2013 3:47 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Federal regulators and state inspectors have issued warnings to cantaloupe farmers and packers that they will be testing melons for pathogens this year after two years of illness and recalls in the industry. A 2011 listeria outbreak traced to Colorado's Jensen Farms killed 33 people. Another outbreak... more »

• Rocky Ford Growers excited for melon season Play Video

  July 14, 2012 5:52 PM

  Rocky Ford melons hit grocery store shelves Friday and were quickly selling out. It's a sigh of relief for growers who were hit hard last year by a listeria outbreak linked to Jenson Farms in Holly. In all, 30 people died and nearly 150 others were sickened in 28... more »

• Growers want shoppers to know their cantaloupes are safe

  July 13, 2012 5:45 AM

  GLENDALE, Colo. (AP) - Colorado cantaloupe growers are promoting new safeguards as Rocky Ford melons return to grocery stores a year after a deadly listeria outbreak killed 30 people nationwide. Farmers near the Colorado town of Rocky Ford are trying to restore the sweet melon's reputation. They have banded together... more »

• Another Colorado death from Listeria

  November 2, 2011 6:41 PM

  DENVER (AP) - The death toll in an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe has reached 29 after federal health authorities say an eighth person has died in Colorado. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that 139 people have been sickened or killed in 28 states. ... more »

• Two new listeria deaths in Colorado linked to tainted cantaloupe

  October 4, 2011 5:22 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health officials have raised the death toll to 18 in an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that they have confirmed 100 illnesses in 20 states. That includes the 18 deaths. The agency said it has confirmed... more »

• Investigation into Listeria outbreak continues

  September 30, 2011 7:19 PM

  A third person has died of Listeria in Colorado after eating cantaloupe from Jensen Farms; it puts the nationwide death toll to as many at 17 people. The CDC also updated the number of those infected today to 84 in 19 states, and that number could continue to go up... more »

• Listeria illnesses and deaths expected to rise

  September 29, 2011 1:22 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health officials said Wednesday more illnesses and possibly more deaths may be linked to an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe in coming weeks. So far, the outbreak has caused at least 72 illnesses - including up to 16 deaths - in 18 states, making it... more »

• Rocky Ford farmers trying to clear their name

  September 19, 2011 12:23 AM

  Farmers in Rocky Ford are scrambling to clear their name after a listeria scare was mistakenly linked to the area. Health Department memos claimed the tainted cantaloupes were from the "Rocky Ford Region". Just recently it's been learned that the cantaloupes in question were actually from the Jensen Farms... more »

• Voluntary recall issued for Jensen Farms cantaloupe

  September 15, 2011 8:31 AM

  HOLLY, Colo. (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to eat cantaloupes from a southeastern Colorado farm after the farm issued a voluntary recall. Jensen Farms spokeswoman Amy Philpott said Thursday one of the farm's Rocky Ford cantaloupes tested positive for Listeria, but more tests... more »

• FDA, CDC investigate listeriosis outbreak's source

  September 14, 2011 8:18 PM

  DENVER (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the source of contaminated cantaloupe blamed for a multistate listeriosis outbreak. Several Colorado grocery stores have removed cantaloupe from shelves, though there has been no official recall. More than... more »

• Rocky Ford weathering Listeria outbreak

  September 13, 2011 8:46 PM

  It's a town known for its mouth watering cantaloupe and juicy watermelons. But lately, this melon capital has been in the spotlight for a different reason. Four deaths in Colorado and New Mexico have a possible connection to Rocky Ford cantaloupes. "I've had three people so far that didn't... more »

• Two more cases of listeria reported in El Paso County

  September 13, 2011 4:36 PM

  El Paso County Public Health has received two additional reports of Listeria in older adults, although laboratory results regarding whether they are linked to the multi-state outbreak are still pending. El Paso County now has a total of four Listeria cases including one death. "We advise people at... more »

• Cantaloupe likely source of listeria outbreak

  September 9, 2011 4:26 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado's state health department has identified cantaloupe as the likely source of a multi-state listeria outbreak that has sickened at least nine people in the state. Two people have died after being infected with listeria in Colorado but only one of the deaths has been linked... more »

• Common foods can make allergies worse

  September 14, 2010 10:46 AM

  When your allergies start up, you know the usual culprits: mold, ragweed and weather changes that stir those things up. But there may be hidden food triggers making your runny nose and itchy eyes worse. A plate full of fruits and veggies may be good for your waistline,... more »

• Otero County gets disaster designation

  August 24, 2010 2:02 PM

  Gov. Bill Ritter announced Tuesday that Otero and Montrose counties have been designated primary federal disaster areas due to severe frost, freezing temperatures, and high winds that caused significant damage to melon and cherry crops. Ten other counties were designated contiguous disaster areas. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved the disaster... more »

• Governor requests help for melon farmers

  August 6, 2010 7:00 PM

  Gov. Bill Ritter Friday announced he has requested federal disaster assistance for Otero and Montrose counties where freezing temperatures and severe hail affected crops. Gov. Ritter sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking for Secretarial Disaster Designation. In Otero County, frost and freezing temperatures devastated melon... more »

• Cantaloupe: how sweet it is

  August 2, 2010 6:37 PM

  It's melon time! Cantaloupes from Rocky Ford are ready for harvest and the sweet treat is popping up at farmer's markets, supermarkets, and in summer salads. Farmers say this year's harvest is about two weeks behind what's typical. That's because farmers planted late because of a cool spring.... more »