Imports and Exports

Sugarcane was introduced to Jamaica by Spanish colonialists along with slave labor in 1510 ("A Short History"). Sugarcane agriculture became the country's biggest industry and thousands of slaves were put to work on plantations owned by wealthy Europeans. In present day, the sugarcane is still Jamaica's largest export and the crop has become a central aspect of the culture of the island. The country's output of sugar continues to grow, experiencing a noticeable leap in the late 1900's with an output of 237,943 tons in 1996 ("Jamaica - Agriculture"). Sugarcane is the oldest and biggest agricultural industry in Jamaica and continues to boost it's economy today.

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In the late 1800's, growing demands for exports of bananas led to a decrease in Jamaica's dependence on sugar exports ("Jamaica - Agriculture"). Bananas became one of the countries largest exports. Additionally, Jamaica grows and exports coffee, spices, pimentos, cocoa, citrus, and coconuts. Agriculture for domestic consumption increased in the late 1900's and this growth was seen most prominently on smallholder farms who sold their crops locally. Despite this growth, Jamaica currently imports most of it's food sources which results in food prices being fairly high throughout the country ("Jamaica - Agriculture").

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