Too cool for E. coli?

What is the history of E. coli in Arizona's vegetable growing region? That's what this article seeks to address in a Feb. 11 story from The Arizona Republic.

"In the history of Yuma agriculture, we have never had any sort of an outbreak with our leafy-greens," said Kurt Nolte, area agriculture agent for the Yuma County Cooperative Extension, part of the University of Arizona. "The nature of food outbreaks occurs during the warm periods of the year."


TK: The colder irrigation water of the Colorado River, and fewer wild animals, may also be factors, experts say. I wonder if Yuma''s apparently spotless record will create resistance among growers to go the extra mile in food safety precautions.

Meanwhile, this report reveals the FDA said the central coast region of California is responsible for the Taco Bell food borne illness outbreak of last fall.
From the story:

A final FDA report on the Taco Bell E. coli outbreak is a month or more away, according to Herndon. Before then, the agency will issue a report on September's E. coli outbreak among about 200 people in 26 states who ate fresh spinach, Herndon said. That outbreak has been traced by the FDA to fields in Monterey and San Benito counties of California.