While basic goods remain scarce, a communist leader in Granma has hailed the resurgence of TAORO nectar as a significant "success." Yudelkis Ortiz, the first secretary of the Communist Party in the province, took to Facebook to celebrate this so-called "victory," claiming the nectar is in high demand both nationally and internationally. However, for most Cubans, this product remains unseen and untasted for years.
Promoted as the "star product" of the local canning industry, TAORO nectar is available in tamarind, pineapple, mango, and guava flavors. Ortiz also mentioned that the industry is eagerly awaiting the next tomato season to expand their offerings.
Concluding her praises for the province's canning industry, Ortiz used the slogan "With the strength of Unity, Granma Will Triumph," highlighting the disconnect between the public's needs and the Communist Party's propaganda-driven achievements. Meanwhile, the Granma Vegetable Canning Company celebrated on Facebook, stating, "It has been a challenge given the country's situation, but our people can always count on the canners."
This celebration ignores the fact that while TAORO products were popular in the past, they are now largely unknown to most of the population. In another post, the company flaunted their TAORO branded canned goods, available in 3,330-gram cans priced at 5.63 euros on the Pa’miTienda online store, a cost many cannot afford.
Food Shortages and Public Discontent
As Granma's top official and the canning company boast about a "revolutionary achievement" inaccessible to the majority, severe food shortages persist, with distressing incidents unfolding elsewhere in Cuba. In Santiago de Cuba, children received rotten compotes through the government's basic food distribution system.
Earlier this year, a Cuban mother reported finding toxic substances in a children's compote distributed through the island's ration book system. Elizabeth Sánchez Castellano, a Santiago de Cuba resident, shared her alarming discovery on Facebook, stating, "Today it happened to me, and I'll make it viral. Although I know those responsible for this disgusting mess won't face consequences, I hope to save one or more lives as valuable as our children's. As you can clearly see, this was found in the bodega's compote," she declared.