Leonard Myrie, a resident of lower Auldayr on the border of Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, recently tried his hand in the pimento (allspice) business. While he enjoys some entrepreneurial freedom in regards to organising his own schedule, there are hindrances that make it difficult to become self-employed in the pimento business.

"Once you work for the factory, you're their employee," he said.

"It's hard to complete the extraction process without equipment the factory has. So yes, it's a good business to get into but unless you know the business and have everything you need to start it, it's hard to go out on your own."

There are other restrictions in the industry which, Myrie says, are intended to control the cutting of pimento saplings in order to preserve the trees that are essential to the industry. Jamaica is the chief producer of pimento because of the high oil content found in the island's pimento leaves.

The evergreen tree that produces pimento leaves flourishes in areas in and around Savanna-la-Mar. The tree, which sprouts a clove-like berry, first came to prominence when Spanish explorers discovered it in 1509. Now, several Sav businesses use pimento in their products, including Gray's Pepper and EasiSpice.

Overseas, pimento is found in anaesthetics, antioxidants and muscle relaxants. Pimento can also be used for flatulence, indigestion and cramps. Many medical facilities pay top dollar for the essential oil. Health food stores and alternative medicine outlets throughout the United States also purchase pimento oil from Jamaican factories. Health food outfitters typically sell 33 ounces of pimento oil for approximately US$240 (J$21,312.91). By 2006, the export of pimento products was estimated at US$5 million (approximately J$444 million) annually.