Jamaican Cookery

Turkey neck used to be what many Jamaicans called “ghetto oxtail.” It kinda look like oxtail, has a similar vibe when curried or stewed down, and most importantly—it used to be cheap. But cheap where?

Last Saturday, I went to the market and paid $600 JMD per pound for turkey neck. Yes, you read that right. Six hundred dollars. And that’s not even the worst part. Word on the street is that some places are selling it for $800 JMD per pound. I can’t confirm that personally, but let’s be real—if turkey neck can reach $600, anything is possible.

I started noticing something odd a while back—turkey neck just disappeared from the shelves. Right around the same time the USA vs Canada tariff war started heating up. Now, I’m not saying that’s the reason turkey neck got scarce, but it’s one hell of a coincidence.

Remember, Jamaica imports turkey neck from Canada. So if Canada and the US at odds, and shipping or production slow down, it would make sense that Jamaica feel the pressure too. A month or so after the shortage, turkey neck start reappearing—but this time, with a serious price hike. 

It’s shocking how a meat that used to be bottom-shelf, struggle-meal material now need budget planning to buy. Turkey neck going bougie, and the people who used to rely on it are the ones feeling the squeeze.

All now, I still calling it $600 per pound, because that’s what I paid. But if it rise again? Lord help we.

Stay tuned—next thing you know, chicken back going need layaway plan