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🇯🇲 Jamaica /Environment & Climate

Drought Pushes Jamaica Market Prices Higher, With Sweet Peppers at $600 and Lettuce at $1,000

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Jamaican vendors report shortages and higher prices for produce as drought conditions reduce local supplies.
  • Lettuce is selling for $1,000, while sweet peppers cost $600 and carrots $400 per pound.
  • Vendors say crops such as pumpkins and peppers need more water than current conditions provide, prompting imports of some produce.

Jamaican shoppers could face higher produce prices in the coming weeks as drought conditions make crops harder to source.

Vendors reported prices of $350 per pound for Irish potatoes, $250 for sweet potatoes, $300 for pumpkins and $1,000 for lettuce. Carrots were selling for $400 per pound, while sweet peppers cost $600. Some carrots and sweet peppers are being imported to meet demand.

One vendor told Market Bag host Carlysia Ramdeen that the lack of rainfall had made it difficult for crops to survive. “Pumpkins cannot withstand the heat because pumpkins need water so because of the drought, we don’t have pumpkins. Peppers can’t grow without water. Sweet peppers cannot grow without water. So, the drought is really affecting the market,” she said.

Pumpkins cannot withstand the heat because pumpkins need water so because of the drought, we don’t have pumpkins. Peppers can’t grow without water. Sweet peppers cannot grow without water. So, the drought is really affecting the market.

· Unnamed vendorThe vendor explained how drought and heat were reducing supplies of pumpkins and peppers.
About this summary

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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