"Powdered milk, it is milk that has been dried. It is less expensive and easier to store than fresh milk. Many poor families use powdered milk instead of commercial formula for their children."

Milk Powder in a wooden bowl

Milk Powder is a product used by most households in Jamaica because it is inexpensive and easier to store. We use powdered whole milk and more recently we started using powdered coconut milk in our traditional recipes. However, recently there has been a shortage on the local market, which I only realized was happening when I went into a supermarket and could find none.

We have a few brands of whole milk on the market, and none of the products is locally made, it is usually sourced from New Zealand when last I checked. There has been no public outcry so I am assuming that someone somewhere received notification of the shortage and I simply missed the bulletin.

Powdered milk, it is milk that has been dried. It is less expensive and easier to store than fresh milk. Many poor families use powdered milk instead of commercial formula for their children.

Unfortunately, I noticed that after this powdered milk shortage ended, the price of powdered milk rose remarkably, in addition to a few new brands coming to the market. I'm unaware of the rationale for this price increase and It does not bode well for lower-income consumers who used milk powder as a substitute for the more expensive fresh milk.

Even with this price increase, it turned out that the most familiar brand still reigned supreme in terms of market share because consumers are unwilling to change and will adjust their budgets to accommodate these price increases.

These products should be capped or subsidized by the government as this is a basic and essential product. I may use it to make tea and drink cereal, but other people use it to make porridge for their children. This cannot be allowed to become too expensive.

Whole Milk in a Jug, bottle and glass

Did you notice the shortage or price increase for the milk powder? Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. What do you consider to be the best milk powder on the Market?

“The simplest and most cost-effective way to achieve food security is usually through creating a home garden.”

Herbs growing in small pots

As someone who has a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition, a core function of my profession as a Dietitian or Nutritionist is to help my client to achieve food security. The simplest and most cost-effective way to achieve this is usually through creating a home garden. As someone who grew up in the parish that is considered the breadbasket of the island due to a lot of farming taking place there, eating from our gardens, and receiving and giving food as gifts are just a way of life. I, therefore, had never had a second thought about advising someone to start a garden at home. It was a no-brainer for me and having to move to the city to complete my tertiary education and staying there to work, I decided to begin my own home garden.

I excitedly informed my sister of my plans and started daydreaming of all the money I would save, just the thought solidified my conviction that this was indeed my calling. I thought of how amazing it would be for me to plant my own food, no more awkward selecting and weighing produce to have to quietly put back on the display after seeing the final price. I would now quietly judge my fellow shoppers for wasting money on these expensive foods that I am getting for free.

Assorted Vegetables with cabbage, tomatoes, onion, cucumber and eggplants

As you would expect, my sister rolled her eyes and said "okay come on!" as she accompanied me to purchase the seeds at a prominent farm store. She convinced me to buy only two packets of seeds, just in case I didn't follow through, so we purchased string beans and peppers.

Let me just say that at this point, that I have a newfound respect for farmers, because, after that first morning spent in the sun preparing my garden I was convinced that I had discovered some new-age workout routine, and this was a reasonable method of keeping fit, I was in pain from head to toe.

It is now six months later, and I have only just prepared my garden a month ago and I am still waiting on my plants. In my case, I live in a shared yard and I am positive that my garden will not be given a chance to thrive by overzealous landscapers but I am still grateful for the experience. This has put a lot into perspective. Food security is hard to achieve because the average person does not possess the skills needed to produce food, and although this is a recommendation made to people who honestly are not healthy or else they wouldn't need to see us, it is not very realistic. I'll stick to planting Spanish thyme.

Farmers are the professionals and they should be rewarded for their dedication to the job of feeding the nation. Achieving food security means, supporting locally produced foods as this helps society not just nutritionally, but also economically. Growing up in a rural area, I did not have access to as many material things, nor was I as exposed as my urban counterparts, but I was never, food insecure, so although technically I was poor I really wasn't. This was due to the fact that we always had something growing at home, whether herbs, seasoning, vegetables, fruit, we were never hungry.

I am willing to learn how to continue doing this in an urban space, but it is hard. So yes, I believe we should buy Jamaican, but Grow Jamaican?? I didn't succeed on my first try, however, I still challenge you to make an attempt.

Feel free to comment.

Farmer in the field working