KINGSTON, Jamaica — The aftermath of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaican farmers reeling, leading to a sharp increase in food prices at the Coronation Market. Essential produce such as escallion, tomato, carrot, and scotch bonnet pepper have seen significant price hikes. Escallion is now priced at $1,000-$1,200 per pound, while tomatoes and carrots are selling for $400 per pound. Scotch bonnet peppers are fetching $300-$500 per pound. Brittania Witter, host of Market Bag, visited the downtown Kingston market to document the escalating costs, highlighting the economic strain on both producers and consumers. The hurricane’s devastation has disrupted agricultural supply chains, exacerbating the financial burden on local communities.