Market Bag: Carrot for $500 as relief from rains not yet felt

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Despite recent rainfall providing relief from prolonged drought conditions and raising hopes among shoppers that food prices will ease, the cost of agricultural produce remains stubbornly high at the Coronation Market. During this week’s visit to the downtown Kingston landmark, lettuce remained among the most expensive items, selling for $1,500 per pound. Scotch bonnet peppers were priced at $600 per pound, while carrots were being sold for $500 per pound. Sweet potatoes were going for $450 per pound, while tomatoes, sweet peppers and pineapples were each selling for $400 per pound. Escallion was priced at $300 per pound, while onions and Irish potatoes were being sold for $250 per pound. Shoppers expressed frustration over the high prices which continue to put pressure on household budgets. Speaking with Market Bag host Carlysia Ramdeen, a consumer expressed concern about how much he is now spending on groceries, noting that his money is buying significantly less than it used to. “The prices this week are crazy. Right now, I came here with probably like $10,000 and just one bag, and for the items that I got for that price, [it’s] ridiculous,” he said. “This needs to be rectified and fixed because probably like say a couple months from now, it’s gonna be crazy.” Catch the latest episode of Market Bag on all Jamaica Observer digital platforms.