The farmers, who wanted to remain anonymous, claimed that over the last several weeks local food stores have not purchased fresh pork locally, which resulted in more than 30 spoiled carcasses. Pork can only be stored in the slaughter house for up to 72 hours, according to the farmers, who said they have been told that local stores did not need pork at that time.

"We made a complaint to the Ministry of Agriculture because the stores are refusing to purchase the pork from Bahamian farmers and they are ordering it from the United States. Farmers cannot survive like this because if we are producing the products and they are not sold then we lose on profits and no one can continue to operate if they are losing profits," said one farmer who said he has been in the business for 42 years.

He said the imported pork had drained the pockets of farmers and that some were thinking twice about remaining in the field.