Voxpop

The 2010 Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show is now under way in Clarendon. The theme of the show this year is 'Eat What We Grow, Grow What We Eat'. Jamaica's unofficial national dish is ackee and salt fish (which is imported).

We asked patrons at the show, should Jamaica's national dish be wholly local?

Albert Fearon,agriculturist

It should be wholly Jamaican, but since salt fish is a household thing and it has been with us over the years, we could use it, although it is imported. Out of many, one.

Erica Wilson, childcare attendant

The national dish should definitely be all local and rely less on imports. Chicken is the more common meat.

Joel Bartley, third-year food chemistry major

Yes, I think it should be more local. I don't see why we should import anything.

Andrew Walker, college graduate

No, because ackee is local, and nobody uses salt fish like we use it. We've made the dish original.

Bloom Wellington, retiree

Ackee and salt fish is still my dish, but if we were to change it, why not make the national dish escoveitched fish?

Barbara Lewis, vendor

Everybody likes ackee and salt fish and everybody is used to it.

Kirk Abbot, farmer

I don't think it's necessary for every item to be local. Our national dish should reflect our past and present. If anything, maybe we could have salted lionfish, instead of salt fish.