I stepped out of my car into the crisp October air at Saskatoon Farm, just south of Calgary. The sprawling 80-acre farm, normally bustling with visitors picking berries or sampling farm-fresh pies at the on-site bakery, stood unusually quiet. Yellow caution tape fluttered across the entrance to the u-pick fields, and a handwritten sign directed visitors to the main building only.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Maria, a longtime employee who asked that I use only her first name. Her hands, weathered from years of farm work, trembled slightly as she adjusted her mask. “People come here for joy, for connection to the land. Not to get sick.”
The outbreak at Saskatoon Farm has now been definitively linked to E. coli and amoebiasis, according to Alberta Health Services. What began as scattered reports of illness following visits to the popular agritourism destination has ballooned into one of southern Alberta’s most significant foodborne illness events in recent years.
As of yesterday, health officials have confirmed over 35 cases of illness tied to the farm, with symptoms ranging from severe stomach cramps and diarrhea to more serious complications requiring hospitalization. The majority of cases occurred in visitors who attended the farm between September 15 and October 2.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, former chief medical officer of health for Alberta who now consults on public health emergencies, explained the unusual nature of this dual-pathogen outbreak. “Finding both E. coli and amoebiasis in the same outbreak location suggests potential problems with water sources or sanitation systems,” she told me during a phone interview. “These are distinct pathogens with different treatment approaches, which complicates the medical response.”
E. coli bacteria typically come from contaminated food or water, while amoebiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite most commonly spread through contaminated water, food, or surfaces with fecal matter. Both can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, but amoebiasis can also lead to liver abscess if left untreated.
For Sophie Winters, a Calgary mother of two, what was meant to be a wholesome family outing turned into a week-long health nightmare. “My daughter started vomiting about 36 hours after our visit,” Winters recounted as we spoke outside a local clinic where she was getting follow-up testing. “Then my son and I got sick. The doctor confirmed it was E. coli. My husband was the only one who didn’t eat the fresh berries that day—and the only one who didn’t get sick.”
Water testing across the property has become the focus of the AHS investigation. Initial findings suggest potential contamination in the irrigation system that supplies water to both the fields and some food preparation areas. The exact source remains under investigation, though samples from several water sources have tested positive for both pathogens.
Farm owner Paul Hamer acknowledged the outbreak in a statement posted to the farm’s website: “The health and safety of our visitors and staff remain our highest priority. We are working closely with health officials to determine the source of contamination and have voluntarily closed affected areas until we can ensure they are completely safe.”
The economic impact extends beyond the farm itself. Local restaurants and food producers who source ingredients from Saskatoon Farm have pulled products from their menus and shelves, creating ripple effects throughout the local food economy. The Foothills Community Farmers’ Market has established temporary testing protocols for all vendors associated with the farm.
Environmental health specialist Amrita Bhogal, who has studied similar outbreaks across Canada, noted that this case highlights vulnerabilities in our agricultural tourism system. “Farms that transition from production-only to visitor-friendly destinations often need to upgrade water and sanitation infrastructure significantly,” Bhogal explained. “Sometimes those upgrades don’t keep pace with increasing visitor numbers.”
This outbreak bears similarities to the 2018 romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak that affected 29 people across Canada, though in that case, the contamination was traced to irrigation water in California growing regions. In both instances, water systems became the unseen carriers of dangerous pathogens.
Public health officials are recommending that anyone who visited Saskatoon Farm since mid-September monitor for symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea (possibly bloody), vomiting, or fever. Those experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention and mention their visit to the farm.
For visitor Deanna Morris, the outbreak has shaken her trust in local food systems. “We go to these places because we want food that’s less processed, more connected to the earth,” she said, standing in her kitchen where mason jars of now-quarantined Saskatoon berry jam sat untouched. “Now I’m wondering if I should just stick to the supermarket.”
But food safety experts caution against overcorrection. “Our local food systems are generally very safe,” said Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, a food safety researcher at the University of Guelph. “These incidents, while serious, remain relatively rare compared to the volume of safe local food consumed every day.”
As the sun set behind the rolling hills surrounding the farm, staff were busy implementing enhanced sanitization protocols. Water lines were being flushed, and new filtration systems installed. Alberta Health Services indicated that parts of the farm may be able to reopen within weeks, provided testing shows the contamination has been eliminated.
For now, the quiet at Saskatoon Farm stands in stark contrast to the busy harvest season they’d anticipated. The paths between berry bushes lay empty, the children’s playground abandoned. But in the distance, I noticed farm workers carefully tending to fields—a reminder that despite this setback, the rhythms of agricultural life continue, and with proper precautions, the farm will likely welcome visitors again.
As I left, Maria called after me: “Tell people we’ll make this right. This land has fed families for generations. It will again.”
