Cuban Government Sells Local Potatoes in Dollars at New Havana Supermarket

The Cuban government is now offering Frutisel brand local potatoes for $8.85 per bag at Havana's 3rd and 70th supermarket, the first store in Cuba designed to operate solely with foreign currency. Amidst a severe food crisis affecting most Cubans, this product has sparked interest, with customers lining up to purchase it. This information was shared by the YouTube channel Ana y Abe Cuba Vlogs, which documented their visit to this supermarket located in the Playa municipality. In the video, a shopper displays the potatoes and remarks, “$8.85 hurts my soul, but if you want to eat, you have to pay; it’s what there is.” Although the exact weight of the package is unspecified, its size suggests it contains less than five kilograms.

This establishment was the pioneer in selling products exclusively in U.S. dollars, and this model has since been replicated in other provinces, with the official aim of generating foreign currency amidst the country's economic collapse. The government has announced plans to open more than 50 similar stores nationwide.

Disparity and Rationing: A Stark Reality

Meanwhile, the rest of the country faces a vastly different scenario. Cubans can only access potatoes through the ration book and in limited quantities. In Santiago de Cuba, residents have had to wake up early to purchase just three pounds per person, as reported by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada. A video circulating on social media captures arguments and shouting amid a lengthy queue, reflecting the public's dissatisfaction.

In Matanzas, young Cuban @brianna4258 took to TikTok to complain that only two pounds of potatoes were being sold per person and that the product given to her grandparents was exceptionally small. “Look at the potatoes they gave my grandparents. A quail egg is bigger,” she stated in a viral video. This complaint sparked outrage on social media over the treatment of the elderly.

In another video, the same user documented the arrival of potatoes in Matanzas and lamented that after months without the product, the little available was distributed in minimal rations. The footage stirred comments ranging from disbelief and solidarity to criticism of the state distribution system.

Economic Turmoil and Monetary Policy Shift

This disparity unfolds amid rampant inflation, a free-falling Cuban peso, and an increasingly dysfunctional state distribution system. In this context, leader Miguel Díaz-Canel recently conceded that the nation will have to “live with partial dollarization” of the economy as part of a “monetary policy update.” He made these remarks during a meeting with national banking system officials, which was broadcast on state television.

“We need to pursue a more realistic exchange rate unification and develop a monetary policy that can control inflation,” stated the leader, who advocated for dollarization as a means to encourage foreign currency inflow.

However, most Cubans lack stable access to foreign currency, exacerbating social inequality and limiting their ability to purchase basic goods. Meanwhile, cash shortages, the collapse of ATMs, and widespread mistrust in electronic payments continue to erode daily life.

Concurrently, the government has attempted to curb inflation by imposing price caps on items like rice and beans, but black market prices are double these figures, and official policies have failed to halt the persistent rise in living costs.

The Potato: A Symbol of Inequality

The sale of local potatoes in dollars has thus emerged as a new emblem of the inequality that pervades the island. While a minority with access to foreign currency can shop in well-stocked stores, the majority of Cubans still endure endless lines for rationed, low-quality products in meager quantities.

Potatoes, a staple in the Cuban diet, now highlight the chasm between the official rhetoric and the reality experienced by the people.