Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 240 kilometers (150 mi) in length and as much as 85 kilometers (50 mi) in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is 635 kilometers (391 mi) east of the Central American mainland, 150 kilometers (93 mi) south of Cuba, and 180 kilometers (112 mi) west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated. Its indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning either the "Land of Springs," or the "Land of Wood and Water." Formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British West Indies Crown colony of Jamaica. It is the third most populous anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada.

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios is a town on the northern coast of Jamaica, located in the parish of Saint Ann. It is a popular tourist destination, well known for scuba diving and other water sports.

Ocho Rios was once a sleepy fishing village until it was discovered. Ocho Rios is a favored destination of many famous beachcombers such as disco diva Donna Summer, and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Mark Hamilton was once quoted as saying "The moon resides in Ocho Rios". It is now second only to Montego Bay in importance to the tourism industry in Jamaica.

It is a popular destination for cruise ships.

Ocho Rios is also known as the home of Dunn's River Falls. This is a popular attraction that is visited by thousands of visitors each year. Dunn's River Falls cascades down approximately 600 feet into the sea. Fed by springs located in the hills above, visitors take pleasure in 'climbing' the falls as the water rushes around them.

Several of the best resorts in Jamaica are located near Ocho Rios, including the all-inclusive Sans Souci Couples Resort & Spa and the Sandals Grand Ocho Rios, the newly built RIU Ocho Rios, the refurbished Shaw Park Beach Hotel & Spa, the Jamaica Inn, Royal Plantation and The Blue House Luxury Bed and Breakfast Inn. Ocho Rios has gained substantially in popularity among vacationers in recent years as the north coast highway has been improved from the international airport at Montego Bay to Ocho Rios -- a ninety minute drive. The city is also considered one of the safest areas for tourists in Jamaica. ^{[citation needed]} There are a number of good restaurants, a lively night club scene at Margaritaville as well as the nation's two most popular attractions in Jamaica -- Dunn's River Falls (described above) and Dolphin Cove, where visitors are able to swim and interact with dolphins.

Mountain to Sea Bike & Snorkel Adventure

Take a bike ride through the spectacular Jamaican Mountains down to a crystal clear cove for a refreshing plunge into the clear blue sea.

On this excursion you will:

• Be met by the Chukka Cove staff 2,000 feet above sea level.
• Be given a short orientation and assigned a bike.
• Begin with a 90% grade, 8-½ mile downhill ride past beautiful woodlands and meadows.
• Arrive at Mount Zion, to enjoy a thirst-quenching stop at a real Jamaican Spicy Grove tavern.
• Listen as your guides enlighten you with stories of various spots you will pass.
• Ride by the ruins of an historic 17th century sugar factory.
• Ride alongside the Polo fields before arriving at a picturesque cove.
• Snorkel in the pristine waters or just go for a swim if you prefer.

Note: Minimum age is 8 years. Although mostly downhill, this excursion involves a moderate level of physical activity and the ride lasts approximately 1-½ hours, snorkel equipment is provided.

Ackee

The Ackee or Akee (Blighia sapida) is a member of the Sapindaceae (soapberry family), native to tropical West Africa in Cameroon, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo^[1].

It is related to the Lychee and the Longan, and is an evergreen tree that grows about 10 metres tall, with a short trunk and a dense crown. The leaves are pinnate^[2], leathery, compound, 15-30 cm long, with 6-10 elliptical obovate-oblong leaflets. Each leaflet is 8-12 cm long and 5-8 cm broad.

The flowers are unisexual and fragrant. They have five petals, are greenish-white^[3] and bloom during warm months^[4]. The fruit is pear-shaped. When it ripens, it turns from green to a bright red to yellow-orange, and splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, surrounded by soft, creamy or spongy, white to yellow flesh - arilli^[2].The fruit typically weighs 100-200g^[2].

The scientific name honours Captain William Bligh, of the HMAV Bounty^[3] who is said to have introduced the fruit from West Africa (from present-day Guinea) to the Caribbean islands, and specifically to Jamaica in 1793. Contrary to popular belief it is was in fact Dr. Thomas Clark who first imported the fruit to Jamaica in 1778^[5]. Since then it has become a major feature of various Caribbean cuisines, and is also cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas elsewhere around the world. The term 'ackee' originated from the Twi language^[6]. Other names and variant spellings include Ackee, Akee, akee apple, Achee, or vegetable brain.

Cultivation and uses

The crop has been introduced to other regions in the tropics. It was first introduced to Jamaica and later to Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Barbados and others. It has been later introduced to Florida in the United States.

The oil of the ackee arils contains many important nutrients, especially fatty acids. Linoleic, palmitic and stearic acids are the primary fatty acids found in the fruit^[7]. Ackee oil makes an important contribution to the diet of many Jamaicans.

Ackee and salt fish (cod) is the national dish of Jamaica. Salt cod is sautéed with ackee (boiled), pork fat, onions, peppers, tomatoes, herbs, and may be garnished with crisp bacon and fresh tomatoes.

The dried seeds, fruit bark and leaves are used medicinally^[8]. The fruit is used to produce soap in some parts of Africa. It is also used as a fish poison^[9].

Ackee Poisoning

The fruit of the Ackee is not edible in entirety. It is only the fleshy arils around the seeds that are edible while the remainder of the fruit and seeds are poisonous. The fruit must only be picked after it has opened naturally, and it must be fresh and not overripe. Immature and overripe Ackee fruit are also poisonous. The fruit, even when ripe, is a cause of Jamaican vomiting sickness, characterized by vomiting and hypoglycemia.

The unripened or inedible portions of the fruit contain the toxins hypoglycin A and hypoglycin B. Hypoglicin A is found in both the seeds and the arilli, while hypoglycin B is found only in the seeds^[2]. Hypoglycin is converted in the body to methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid (MCPA). Hypoglycin and MCPA are both toxic. MCPA inhibits several enzymes involved in the breakdown of acyl CoA compounds. Hypoglycin binds irreversibly to coenzyme A and carnitine reducing their bioavailability and consequently inhibiting beta oxidation of fatty acids. Beta oxidation normally provides the body with ATP, NADH and acetyl CoA which is used to supplement the energy produced by glycolysis. Glucose stores are consequently depleted leading to hypoglycemia^[10] .

Economic Importance

The ackee fruit is canned and is a major export product in Jamaica. In 2005 the ackee industry was valued at $400 million in the Island^[11]. The importing of canned ackee into the US has at times been restricted due to unripe ackee arilli being included. However, it is currently allowed, provided that the amount of hypoglycin present meets standards of the Food and Drug

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