The Cuban regime announced a reduction in the size of bread provided in the basic ration from Friday, September 13, with its weight now decreased to 60 grams, amid the worst food crisis in the nation’s history. However, the Ministry of the Food Industry (MINAL) had no qualms about showcasing its flour production for export and foreign currency sales. This display took place during the 14th International Varadero Gourmet Festival, where the variety and quality of its wheat flours were prominently featured.
While on September 13, Anayra Cabrera Martínez, General Director of Industrial Policy at MINAL, was explaining to Cubans that the low availability of wheat flour necessitated the reduction of bread ration size from 80 to 60 grams, in Varadero, the joint venture company Industria Molinera de La Habana S.A. (IMSA), partially state-owned, proudly exhibited its flour production.
“We started this month of September with enthusiasm and determination. We are ready to show our products and services at the 2024 International Varadero Gourmet Festival, from September 11 to 13 in its 14th edition,” IMSA posted on its social media at the beginning of the month.
Formed from a partnership between Corporación Alimentaria S.A. de Cuba and IMEX S.A. de C.V., a Mexican capital entity, IMSA showcased its flours for making bread, pizza, and pastries at its Varadero Gourmet stand.
While Cabrera Martínez explained that reducing the size and weight of bread was the only way to ensure the rationed product for the population, the Cuban regime, through its participation in IMSA, celebrated its very active and successful participation in Varadero Gourmet.
Government Priorities Under Scrutiny
Taking advantage of the event to interact with executives from Grupo Varadero, the Cuban Culinary Federation, and Grupo Cubanacán, the company linked to MINAL directed its efforts “towards intensifying commercial relations between joint ventures as well as developing new productions with specific flour types.”
While Cabrera Martínez assured that the bread quota reduction was not a permanent change and that it wouldn’t affect the product's quality, the company linked to the ministry she oversees was promoting on social media a variety of flours for export or foreign currency sales to small and medium enterprises (Mipymes). The regime aims to transition from its old rationing policy to a market economy.
It’s no wonder that Cabrera Martínez clarified that the Cuban Bread Chain would continue the sale of unrestricted bread, working alongside non-state management forms. Because there is flour, but only for those who can afford IMSA’s prices or those of the "Mipymes" who import and resell, an economic sector pushed by regime loyalists and their relatives.
The celebration of the Varadero Gourmet festival sparked a flood of criticisms on social media towards President Miguel Díaz-Canel, condemning the extravagance of a showcase event for tourism while many households struggle to put food on the table.
The Varadero Gourmet, held in the famous Matanzas resort town, focuses on topics far removed from the everyday Cuban, such as haute cuisine, artistic cooking, and alternative culinary knowledge. Among its "attractions," the event featured cooking, gastronomy, and cocktail competitions.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, it has become viral to share photos on social media showing the size of the bread rationed by the so-called "continuity" regime, revealing the path of hunger and malnutrition that ordinary Cubans are beginning to traverse. This is evidenced by the VII Report on the State of Social Rights in Cuba 2024 by the Cuban Human Rights Observatory, which highlighted that “7 out of 10 Cubans have stopped having breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to lack of money or food scarcity.”
Cuban Food Crisis and Flour Production: Key Questions Answered
This section addresses some of the most pressing questions about the current food crisis in Cuba and the government's controversial actions during the Varadero Gourmet Festival.
Why is the Cuban government reducing the size of bread in the ration?
The government claims that the reduction is due to the low availability of wheat flour, making it necessary to decrease the bread weight from 80 to 60 grams to ensure that everyone receives a ration.
What is the Varadero Gourmet Festival?
The Varadero Gourmet Festival is an international event held in Varadero, Cuba, focusing on high cuisine, artistic cooking, and alternative culinary knowledge. It includes cooking, gastronomy, and cocktail competitions.
What is Industria Molinera de La Habana S.A. (IMSA)?
IMSA is a joint venture company formed from a partnership between Corporación Alimentaria S.A. de Cuba and IMEX S.A. de C.V., a Mexican capital entity. It produces flours for bread, pizza, and pastries, and was showcased at the Varadero Gourmet Festival.
How has the Cuban public reacted to the Varadero Gourmet Festival?
Many Cubans have criticized the festival on social media, condemning the government's focus on showcasing culinary products for tourism while the population faces severe food shortages and bread rationing.