Market Bag: Prices skyrocket as shoppers feel the pinch

Shoppers at Coronation Market in Kingston, Jamaica, are experiencing a severe pinch as food prices have "skyrocketed," compelling many households to scale back their purchases. This surge in prices comes amid Jamaica's ongoing struggle with worsening drought conditions, which have significantly impacted agricultural output and driven up the cost of locally grown produce.

Several staple items have seen dramatic price increases. Sweet peppers are now priced at $600, lettuce at $1,200, tomatoes at $400, pumpkin at $400, and thyme at $1,000 per pound. Even ripe bananas are fetching $1,000 per dozen. These elevated costs are forcing consumers to make difficult choices about their grocery shopping.

Regular shopper Kevin Thompson shared his strategy of meticulously comparing prices throughout the market to find the best deals. He noted that the rising costs have necessitated a reduction in the quantity of produce his household buys. "Instead of buying the regular amount, it made us have to cut back a little because we realised that this week the prices are really skyrocketing. So, instead of getting like two pounds, we have to get one pound, or even as much as half a pound," Thompson explained.

The article also briefly mentions other unrelated news items from August 28, 2026, including the upcoming release of an album by actor Sheldon Shepherd, a tennis tournament, a mentorship program recruitment, a politician's visit to Trelawny, the exchange rate of the US dollar, and the progress of Tropical Storm Dolly. These snippets appear to be standard content from the Jamaica Observer's digital platforms.

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Instead of buying the regular amount, it made us have to cut back a little because we realised that this week the prices are really skyrocketing. So, instead of getting like two pounds, we have to get one pound, or even as much as half a pound.