by Jordan Schrader, STAFF WRITER
September 14, 2006

MARSHALL – Officials have destroyed the crops grown at a Madison County farm where contaminated water led to hepatitis A cases throughout the country.

Public health officials have refused to identify the farm in northeastern Madison County. But they issued a statement from its owner late Wednesday apologizing to any county farmers who might lose customers afraid of eating their produce.

The farm grows vegetables only for its residents’ consumption, the unidentified man said in his handwritten note. None of this year’s crop was sold publicly.

Officials said there was no evidence of transmission of the liver disease through produce. People who worked at or visited the property are suspected to have contracted it from drinking water.

The owner blamed the cases on a contaminated spring and promised a new well would be dug.

“This has been an unfortunate event for everyone involved,” the note said.

Four county residents were confirmed to have hepatitis A. Ten more cases are under investigation in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, Washington and Oregon.

The farm is near the Appalachian Trail and the Tennessee border, officials said.

Contact Jordan Schrader via e-mail at jschrade@gannett.com.