Ground provisions is the Caribbean term for starchy root vegetables and tubers grown in the ground — as opposed to fruit or vegetables that grow above it. The term covers a family of crops that form the base of most Caribbean meals, usually boiled, roasted, or fried and served alongside meat, fish, or callaloo.
What counts as ground provisions?
- Yam — including yellow yam and negro yam.
- Cassava (yuca) — fresh, or processed into bammy and farine.
- Dasheen (taro) and eddoe — related root crops used in soups and as a side.
- Sweet potato and tannia — widely grown across the region.
- Pumpkin — sometimes grouped in with ground provisions on market stalls, though it grows above ground.
Why the term matters for buying and selling
"Ground provisions" is exactly how Caribbean buyers search and shop — at the market, from a higgler, or online. Listing your yam or cassava as "ground provisions" alongside its specific name helps buyers find it, whether they're searching for the umbrella term or the individual crop.
Ready to buy or list ground provisions? Visit the Ground Provisions page on FarmFlow, or read How to sell yam online in Jamaica for a step-by-step guide.