Roads to the poorer dwellings and isolated farms can be treacherous paths that turn into mud tracks when it rains. Many feeder roads were not macadamised and have now reverted to bush. In areas where the parochial road has been destroyed by torrential rains and landslides, it is very difficult for regular vehicles to get into the community which increases the risk of spoilage during flooding. The poor roads indirectly contribute to the scarcity of transportation and the charging of excessive fares, or even outright refusal of taxi cabs and other public transportation to go into some communities. The distribution system for small farm crops is greatly weakened by poor roads and irregular transportation.
Small farmers tend to readily accept the various marketing options.
There is a genuine lack of initiative among farmers to collectively negotiate prices or to seek and organise new markets that will bring them the greatest benefit. For a long time, the problem with the Jamaican food system was not only with volume of production per-se, but to a large extent with preservation. The main products that are processed and exported are ackee, callaloo, fruit juices, jams made from a range of local fruits, spicy sauces and seasonings. Currently, there are approximately sixty food processors in Jamaica. They range in size from individually operated small firms to large limited liability companies.