If you live in the USA and support family back home, you have probably done it all: shipped a barrel, sent money through a remittance counter, or asked a cousin to go to the supermarket for Mommy. Each works, but each has a catch. This guide explains how to send groceries to Jamaica from the USA by ordering online, paying in US dollars, and having the groceries bought and delivered in Jamaica to any parish.

The problem with the old ways

Barrels take planning. You buy goods in the States, pack them, drop the barrel at a shipper, and then your family waits for it to arrive and clears it at the wharf. Fresh items are out of the question and the timing is unpredictable. Our barrel vs online grocery delivery breakdown goes through this in detail.

Cash remittances are fast, but someone still has to take the money to town, shop and carry everything home. For an elderly parent, that can be the hardest part. And honestly, the money does not always end up as food.

Asking a relative to shop depends on their time and goodwill, and it gets awkward when it has to happen every month.

How ordering online from the USA works

Jamaica Online Shop is a Jamaican online grocery and household store. You shop from wherever you are in the USA, whether that is New York, Florida, Connecticut, Georgia or Texas, and the order is supplied and delivered in Jamaica. Nothing is shipped from the US, so there is no barrel, no customs and no wharf.

  1. Switch the price display to USD at the top of the site so you see roughly what each item costs in US dollars.
  2. Add items to your bag from the departments below, or use the search bar.
  3. Enter your family member's details as the delivery address: their name, full address with a landmark, and a phone number that works in Jamaica, ideally on WhatsApp.
  4. Use your own email so you receive the order confirmation and updates.
  5. Pay by card or PayPal. CashApp is also accepted.
  6. We contact your relative by phone or WhatsApp to arrange the drop-off.

Where in Jamaica can you send groceries?

We deliver to all 14 parishes. Local delivery covers Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Manchester, St. Thomas and Clarendon, and the other parishes, including St. James, St. Ann, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth and Portland, are served by door-to-door islandwide delivery. Fees are listed by parish on our delivery page, from J$800 in the May Pen area to J$3,000 for door-to-door islandwide delivery, and the exact fee is shown in the cart before you pay. Islandwide orders are delivered door to door in 1 to 2 business days after payment is confirmed. Orders placed after 2 PM Jamaica time are counted from the next day.

For parish-specific tips, see our guides to Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Portmore & Spanish Town and Mandeville.

What to send

  • Groceries & pantry: rice, flour, cornmeal, sugar, cooking oil, tin mackerel, corned beef, sardines, pasta, porridge staples and baking items.
  • Fresh produce & vegetables: yam, potatoes, callaloo, escallion, thyme, peppers and fruit, depending on what is in season.
  • Seasonings & spices: the jerk, curry, browning and all-purpose seasonings that Jamaican cooking depends on.
  • Beverages & drinks: juices, malt, sodas, water and bedtime drinks.
  • Household & cleaning and personal care: soap, detergent, bleach, toilet paper, toothpaste and the other basics nobody wants to run out of.
  • Baby & toddler: diapers, wipes and baby food for young families.
  • Wholesale sizes for large households, small shops, churches and events.

One thing that catches new customers: rice, sugar, flour and cornmeal sold loose are priced per pound (lb). The quantity box on those items is the number of pounds, not the number of bags. If you want ten pounds of rice, put 10 in the box. Check it before you pay so the order matches what you expect.

Fresh meats are packed in insulated cold boxes with ice packs for local delivery.

Send a ready-made box instead

If you do not have time to build a list, our Yard Box care packages are packed in Jamaica and delivered to any parish. They are a simple choice for birthdays, Mother's Day, back-to-school or just a regular monthly top-up.

Paying for your order

Every order is prepaid. You can pay by debit or credit card, PayPal, CashApp or Jamaican bank transfer. Card and PayPal payments are processed securely, and bank-transfer orders are dispatched once the transfer is confirmed. You can switch the price display between JMD, USD, CAD and GBP at the top of the site, so you always know roughly what you are spending in your own currency. Product prices shown on the site include GCT, and the delivery fee is added in the cart, so the total you see before you pay is the total you pay.

Paying in USD by card or PayPal means the money goes straight to the groceries. Your relative does not need to handle cash, go to a remittance counter or travel to town.

Tips from families who order every month

  • Ask what they actually need. A quick call before ordering avoids sending five bags of sugar to someone who needed rice.
  • Pick a regular day. Many people order on payday so the cupboard is refilled at the same time each month.
  • Mind the time difference. Jamaica does not observe daylight saving time, so the 2 PM cut-off is Jamaica time, not Eastern time.
  • Warn your relative that a delivery driver will call, so they answer an unknown number.
  • Use a strong landmark. Many Jamaican addresses, especially rural ones, depend on directions rather than street numbers.

Can you trust an online grocery shop in Jamaica?

It is a fair question, especially if you have been burned before by a seller who took the money and went quiet. Jamaica Online Shop is based in Jamaica, and you can see real photos and video from actual deliveries on our proof-of-delivery page. You see the full total, including delivery, before you pay, and you get order updates by email. If you want to ask something first, such as whether we reach a particular district, message us on WhatsApp +1 (207) 613-5240 before you place the order.

Also buying bigger items?

If the family needs a fridge, stove or fan rather than food, read our guide to buying appliances for family in Jamaica from abroad, or browse appliances & electronics.

Ready to send groceries home? Start shopping, switch to USD, and enter your family's Jamaican address at checkout.