Market Bag: Peppers hit $700, lettuce now $1,500 as food prices continue to soar
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Food prices continue to rise at the Coronation Market in downtown Kingston as farmers struggle with the effects of a worsening drought, pushing up the cost of several essential produce items.
Among the more expensive items this week are lettuce, which is selling for $1,500 per pound, and Scotch bonnet peppers and sweet peppers, both priced at $700. Other items seeing steep increases include carrots at $500 per pound; Irish potatoes and pumpkin at $400 each; onions at $350; and sweet potatoes at $350.
With the rising costs, ISSA-certified nutritionist Orandy Smith is encouraging Jamaicans to “work with what is working with you” when preparing meals and making food choices.
Speaking on the latest episode of Market Bag with host Carlysia Ramdeen, Smith said some ingredients remain essential in his household, regardless of price.
“Because my food must be flavourful, regardless of what the cost for seasoning, I’m going to buy them…I must do my onion, I must do my tomato, I must do my escallion, I must do my thyme, I must do my garlic, I must do all of my seasonings. So all of them are non-negotiable,” he said.
Catch the latest episode of Market Bag on all Jamaica Observer digital platforms.
