KINGSTON, Jamaica — Food prices continue to surge at the Coronation Market this week amid worsening drought conditions which have affected agricultural supplies across the country.

Among the more expensive items at the market are lettuce, selling for $1,500 per pound, and Scotch bonnet peppers at $700 per pound. Sweet peppers are going for $600 per pound, while carrots and tomatoes are selling for $500 per pound. Onions, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes are each priced at approximately $400 per pound.

Speaking on the latest episode of Market Bag with host Carlysia Ramdeen, Andre Barnaby of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation pointed to changing weather patterns as one of the major challenges affecting market supply and prices.

“I’d say the biggest challenge right now that we’re facing is climate change so the variation in the weather. So at times or different times of the year, we have large yields and like now for example, in the drought period, we have like way less in terms of supplies. So that affects the overall, that’s like the biggest challenge we face because it also affects price,” Barnaby said.

Catch the latest episode of Market Bag on all Jamaica Observer digital platforms.