Take me Ackee, go to Linstead Market

If you drive on the A1 between Ocho Rios and the south side of the island, you can take a quick detour and pass through the town of Linstead, in the parish of Saint Catherine, Jamaica, which became famous for its bustling fresh produce. market and popularized in Jamaican folk song, Linstead Market.

Jamaica’s largest and most famous produce market is Coronation Market in downtown Kingston. But Linstead developed as a market in the 19th century, when coffee and pepper wholesalers did business here. Farmers from the surrounding rural communities would come to this central location to sell their produce. It was once one of the most popular markets on the entire island and the town of Linstead grew around it.

This area is very rural and the difficulties of the farmers gave rise to the popular song. Linstead Market. “Carry my ackee go to Linstead Market, not a quattie wut sell, lawd wat a night, not a bite, wat a Saturday night.” Today we sing it at a fast pace without really understanding that it was a sad lament from a mother who could not sell enough in the market to feed her children. This market lady was not making any money because not even a quattie of her production had been sold (a quattie was the average British penny, a small copper coin of very little value) and she went home empty-handed after selling everything. Saturday night. . This Jamaican folk song would be in the up-tempo category Dinki They are designed to cheer someone up and make the best of a bad situation (like after a death).

While Linstead Market has lost importance because many cities and towns in Jamaica have their own markets today, it still has a reputation for being one of the best places to get fresh produce. You can find vendors selling all kinds of products that are grown in Jamaica, but today there is a wide variety of other items such as herbs, spices, clothing, shoes, soap, etc.

So, go to a market in Linstead and while you’re there, take a look at the beautiful churches in the city. Most have been devastated over time by several hurricanes and an earthquake, but have been repaired or rebuilt. The original Anglican Church was built in the 17th century. The Jericho Baptist Church dates from 1835.