Why does the Cayman Islands import much of its food?

The Cayman Islands must import most of their food primarily because agriculture occupies only a small portion of the local workforce. The islands' economy is heavily focused on tourism and international finance, with the majority of the population employed in service, clerical, or construction roles.1

Additionally, the islands have limited land resources for large-scale farming, as nearly one-third of the land area is covered by mangrove swamps and there are no rivers. While some crops like citrus fruits, bananas, and mangoes are grown, and small-scale livestock and turtle farming exist, these domestic efforts are insufficient to meet local demand, necessitating the importation of food from trading partners such as the United States.21