George Henry, Gleaner Writer
PHOTO BY CARLINGTON WILMOT
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
SORREL DRINKERS were disappointed this time round as the popular Christmas and New Year's beverage was not available in the usually large quantities due to the damage to sorrel crops by Hurricane Ivan.
But even more disappointing was the fact that sorrel was being sold at high prices because of the shortage.
One vendor, who sells in the Christiana Market in Manchester, told Farmers Weekly that over the many years he had been selling at that facility, this was the worst year for his sorrel crop.
PROLONGED DROUGHT
He said prior to Hurricane Ivan there was a prolonged drought, which affected his crop, but the hurricane made matters worse, sparing only a small quantity.
Meanwhile, the price of sorrel this year was as high as $500 per pound, up from $60 last year.
Linden Walters, who also sells sorrel each year in the Christiana Market, said ginger one of the main ingredients in the preparation of sorrel drink was in adequate supply. However, he said it was not being widely sold because of the sorrel shortage.
At the same time the rhizome was up from $20 per pound
last year to as high as $80 per pound this year.
"Because the price of sorrel has gone up this year, the price of ginger has to move as well, because they both sell together, but Christmas without sorrel is not the same," Mr. Walters said.
