The Cuban government is selling national potatoes under the brand Frutisel for 8.85 dollars per bag at the Havana supermarket located at 3ra y 70, the first one in Cuba to operate solely in foreign currency. In the midst of a severe food crisis affecting the majority of Cubans, the product has generated excitement, with customers lining up to purchase it.
The 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 shows the potatoes and comments: “8.85 hurts my soul, but if you want to eat, you have to pay; it is what it is.” Although the exact weight of the packaging is not specified, its size suggests it contains less than five kilograms.
This establishment was the first to sell products exclusively in U.S. dollars, and since then, the model has been replicated in other provinces, with the official aim of attracting foreign currency amid the country's economic collapse. The government announced it would open more than 50 similar stores nationwide.
Contrast with the population: lines and rationed potatoes
Meanwhile, in the rest of the country, the reality is very different. Cubans only access potatoes through the rationing booklet and in limited quantities. In Santiago de Cuba, citizens have had to wake up early to buy just three pounds per person, according to reports shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada. In a video circulated on social media, discussions and shouting can be heard amidst a long queue, reflecting public discontent.
"Turn it up, Mayeta!" is heard from someone in the crowd, in what has become a popular slogan to highlight precariousness.
In Matanzas, the young Cuban @brianna4258 reported on TikTok that only two pounds of potatoes were being sold per person, and that the product given to her grandparents was incredibly small. “Look at the potatoes they gave my grandparents. A quail egg is bigger,” she said in a viral video. The complaint sparked outrage on social media over the treatment of elderly individuals.
In another video, the same user documented the arrival of potatoes in Matanzas and expressed dismay that, after months without the product, the little that was available was distributed in minimal rations. The images sparked comments ranging from disbelief and solidarity to criticism of the state distribution system.
Structural crisis and monetary policy under review
This contrast occurs amid rampant inflation, a plummeting Cuban peso, and an increasingly collapsed state distribution system. In this context, the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel recently acknowledged that the country will have to "coexist with the partial dollarization" of the economy, as part of a "update" to monetary policy. He stated this during a meeting with the leaders of the national banking system, broadcasted on state television.
"We need to seek a more realistic currency unification and work on a monetary policy that allows us to control inflation," stated the president, who advocated for dollarization as a way to stimulate the inflow of foreign currency.
However, most Cubans do not have stable access to foreign currency, which exacerbates social inequality and limits their ability to acquire basic goods. Meanwhile, the shortage of cash, the collapse of ATMs, and widespread distrust in electronic payments continue to deteriorate daily life.
At the same time, the government has tried to control inflation with price caps on products such as rice and beans, but prices in the black market double those figures, and official policies have not succeeded in curbing the sustained rise in the cost of living.
The potato as a symbol of inequality
The sale of national potatoes in dollars has thus become a new symbol of the inequality that pervades the island. While a minority with access to foreign currency can purchase food in well-stocked stores, the majority of Cubans continue to endure endless lines for rationed products, of low quality and in minimal quantities.
The potato, an essential food in the Cuban diet, today reflects the chasm that separates official discourse from the reality experienced by the people.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sale of Potatoes in Dollars in Cuba
Why does the Cuban government sell potatoes in dollars?
The Cuban government has started selling potatoes in dollars at new supermarkets as a strategy to attract foreign currency amid a severe economic crisis. The partial dollarization of the economy is seen as a necessary measure to stimulate the inflow of foreign currency. However, this has generated criticism due to the social inequality it creates, as most Cubans do not have stable access to foreign currency.
How does the sale of potatoes in dollars affect ordinary Cubans?
The sale of potatoes in dollars accentuates inequality in Cuba because most Cubans do not have access to foreign currency. While a minority with foreign currency can shop in well-stocked stores, the rest of the population must settle for rationed potatoes, which are of low quality and available in limited quantities through the rationing booklet system.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to control inflation?
The Cuban government has tried to control inflation by implementing price caps on basic goods such as rice and beans. However, these measures have not been able to curb the sustained rise in the cost of living, and prices in the black market often double the official figures, causing the population to continue facing serious economic difficulties.
What does the sale of potatoes for dollars symbolize in the current food crisis in Cuba?
The sale of potatoes in dollars has become a symbol of the growing economic inequality in Cuba. It reflects the gulf between the government's official discourse and the reality that most of the population faces, which has limited access to basic food due to the food crisis and the regime's dollarization policies.
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