For years, one narrative has dominated conversations in Jamaica’s food landscape: Imported chicken is cheaper than local. It sounds simple. It feels intuitive. But when we pause and examine the numbers — and more importantly, the structure behind those numbers — that assumption begins to unravel. The reality is far more complex, and it sits at the intersection of food prices, national production, and food security.

The Food Security Lens

Food security is built on four key pillars: Availability, access, utilisation, and stability. When we talk about price, we are firmly in the realm of access. Access refers to the ability of individuals and households to afford sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. In other words, food can be available in abundance, but if consumers cannot afford it, food security is still compromised.