KINGSTON, Jamaica — With cost of living continuing to climb and grocery bills stretching household budgets, Market Bag is back for a brand-new season, bringing you weekly updates on produce prices from markets across the island.

In the season premiere, host Carlysia Ramdeen is joined by shopper and entrepreneur Angella Byfield, who says she has been feeling the impact of rising food prices at supermarkets.

A visit to downtown Kingston’s Coronation Market revealed notable increases in the cost of several items. Onions are selling for as much as $400 per pound, lettuce is priced at $600, while ginger is going for $500.

Byfield said she has been adjusting her shopping habits by substituting certain items where possible to help manage her growing grocery bill.

“If the prices are too expensive, then I switch to something else. For ginger, I’ll probably switch to buying liquid ginger,” Byfield shared, adding, “It is significantly cheaper at the market and…you have a wider, fresher selection.”

Catch the all-new season of Market Bag on all our digital platforms.