Sailing Turks and Caicos is well worth the effort. Turks and Caicos is an archipelago of low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean comprises 7 larger islands and around 100 small islets and more. It has a 1000 year history with the Taino and Lucayan people being the indigenous population until colonization in 1512. Christopher Columbus made landfall here in his inaugural Caribbean cruise in 1492 and set his seaboots on Grand Turk that same year. It has been a popular pirate enclave in past years. The French, Spanish and the English have controlled the islands and the British still do so.
The arid climate and thin soil of Turks and Caicos are not conducive for large scale agriculture, which explains why over 90% of food is imported. Most imports come from Florida, due to its close proximity, but there are also weekly shipping schedules from Asia and Europe. The timing of these weekly shipments plays a key role in ensuring freshness and availability, so it's crucial for sailors to plan their resupply and provisioning strategy accordingly. Imported goods dominate due to the challenges faced in agriculture; nonetheless, the islands' distinctive food culture thrives. Other popular local cuisine ingredients include lobster, crab, and fish, often prepared with locally grown spices and flavors. The islands also produce a variety of fruits such as papaya, guava, and citrus fruits. The local cuisine is a blend of traditional Caribbean flavors with influences from the Bahamas and other nearby islands.
Sailing Turks and Caicos and the North Caicos is called the garden island and they farm sugar cane, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, and tropical fruit that includes papayas, melons and bananas. Middle Caicos produces tomatoes, peppers, melons, bananas, sugar cane and papaya. On Providenciales herbs and tomatoes are grown including a hydroponics enterprise with tomatoes, cucumbers and basil. Despite this reliance on imports, the islands do produce some local fruits. Sapodillas which celebrated for their sweet, grainy texture, grow well in the local soil; likewise, the prickly pear cactus bears a delicious fruit which is highly sought after. Citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit, oranges, and lemons also fare well in this climate. The islands' vegetable production is primarily focused on growing okra, bell peppers, onions, and hot peppers - necessary ingredients for the local cuisine. They also have a major salt making industry here.
When it comes to sourcing your provisions in Turks and Caicos, there are several large supermarkets available. These include Graceway IGA Supermarket, located in the Graceway Plaza complex not too far from the Turtle Cove marina. They offer a variety of fresh and packaged foods, imported from the U.S. and other countries. Groceries, beverages, and other essentials can be found, and their shelves are restocked to coincide with the shipment schedules.
Turks and Caicos also has a handful of local markets that ensure a supply of fresh seafood and occasional local produce. The Blue Hills roadside market is a popular spot where you can source fresh fish, lobster (during the season), and conch. For sailors interested in convenience, several businesses on the islands specialize in yacht provisioning, providing on-demand delivery of groceries directly to the docks. These services include Caicos Yacht Provisions and Stacie Steensland Yacht Provisions.
When sailing in the Caribbean, it's only fitting to indulge in the local rum. The Turks Head Brewery produces a variety of local beers and spirits, and a visit to their facilities is a good afternoon ashore.
Potable water is abundant on the islands, both bottled and in larger containers. Several marinas will deliver to your boat or provide facilities to fill your water tanks directly.
There is The Community and Farmers Market in Providenciales which is a reasonably economical provisioning source. Produce gets imported from other Caribbean Island countries such as Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Buy some Pepperjoy hot sauce if you see it. The varieties include Wild Wheeland, Deadly Ghost and Blue Hills Breeze.
Local fishermen bring in snapper, grouper, and the Caribbean favorite, conch. Grilled, stewed, or made into salads and fritters, dishes featuring these fish offer sailors a taste of the local flair. Sailors who enjoy fishing can also do this but it's crucial to understand local fishing regulations - some species, like the Nassau grouper, are protected due to overfishing. Try the Conch fritters. Try the boiled fish and grits for breakfast. Also try the Blue Crab and Rice. The Island Fish Fry happens every Thursday from 5:30pm to 9:30pm at PTV Stubbs Diamond Plaza, Providenciales. Conch is a major thing here and has the world's only commercial Conch farm which helps conserve the rapidly dwindling wild conch population. Dishes featuring conch are among the most popular in the Turks and Caicos cuisine. Conch salad, conch fritters, cracked conch, and conch chowder are ubiquitous. Peas and rice is another local favorite, often served with locally caught fish.
Check out the Provo Seafood fish market at Five Cays. You can find supplies at several Providenciales locations and several small fish markets are scattered around the island. In the downtown area near the Town Center Mall fishermen often sell fresh seafood from the coolers in the back of trucks and this is up to half the price of supermarkets, and just as fresh. Visit the official Turks and Caicos website for information on visiting.
There are just three small grocery stores with basic supplies and they tend to be more expensive than Providenciales. Grand Turk is very much cruise ship orientated with most restaurants located in Cockburn Town. Graceway Grand Turk is the largest grocery store on Grand Turk and is open seven days a week. Salt Cay has limited supplies and besides investing in some salt here there is some basics at Netty’s in Balfour Town located near Deane’s Dock. So much to look at when sailing Turks and Caicos and in the Caribbean.