What started as an apparently organized line at La Época store in the city of Sancti Spíritus, to buy a carton of eggs (30 units) for $5.25, turned into an embarrassing spectacle of chaos and violence.
More than three and a half hours of shoving, shouting, and total impunity, where the scalpers imposed their rules without the slightest disguise; "a kind of Roman coliseum" in the heart of the shopping center, where the only guarantee was trampling and despair, acknowledged the official newspaper Escambray.
The events described took place on Friday, June 27. While citizens were doing their best to maintain order, “reseller gangs were purchasing one, two, three, four, or more times because they had marked multiple shifts, cutting in line among themselves, devising strategies, hiding their actions, blocking the door to let only their allies in, and shouting obscenities to get their way,” the news outlet reported.
But it wasn't just the well-known “buscavidas” who took the largest amount of the product; time and again, workers and business owners also entered, “apparently their usual profits are never enough for them.”
The management of the store seemed to disregard the issue. As the manager of La Época explained, "they were only responsible for safeguarding the store's assets and the cash in their registers, but they couldn't organize the line; that was the concern of the customers outside their establishment."
And when it was suggested that he should seek support from law enforcement, the manager herself claimed that she had done so on previous occasions and the police had not responded.
According to the text, customers attempting to assert their rights were met with mockery and provocation from the scalpers, who acted with complete impunity. It was stated that the manager, rather than controlling the situation, even questioned whether she should prevent a repeat offender from passing, leaving it up to the crowd to take responsibility for stopping the abuse. The result: she let him through.
The show concluded around 1:30 PM when the product ran out, and "the truth is that the line-cutters managed to get their way. Good people were left alone, defenseless, and frightened," the text summarized.
To make matters worse, associates of the store would enter through side doors to discreetly “collect their belongings, which remained safe and securely stored in the shadow of some shelf,” he added.
The comment indicated that the main cause of such disorder was the economic crisis that Cuba is currently facing, where the productive-financial deficit "has turned the scarcity of everything or almost everything into fodder for the informal market with prices out of a science fiction story."
Finally, Escambray ended up wondering: “Is it logical for a public institution like Tienda La Época to stand idly by in the face of such arbitrariness right under their noses? Is there no way to control the chaos in the operational guidelines or ethics of Tiendas Caribe? Do the relevant authorities not consider this scenario a public disorder, only responding when customers resort to fighting or shatter the windows of some establishment? In the line for eggs at La Época, will it happen, like in the well-known song by Buena Fe, that ‘the damn blame falls on nobody’?”
The state poultry company, unable to sustain the national egg production, has resorted to an unprecedented cooperation scheme with private actors in Sancti Spíritus. Under the name "cooperative eggs", the experiment aims to alleviate the shortages that have left social programs - such as the basic basket and hospitals - on the brink of collapse.
Behind the rhetoric of "cooperation" lies a much more precarious and unequal reality: the State can no longer sustain its supply network and is once again implementing emergency solutions by delegating production to the private sector. In this case, the feed is provided by the entrepreneur, the control is maintained by the state company, and the eggs are distributed, when they arrive.
In October 2024, the Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez Brito, revealed that, of producing between four and five million eggs per day, only 1,200,000 are being produced, when they manage to feed the livestock.
The regime's authorities attribute the debacle of the agricultural sector to a lack of supplies, fuel shortages, and weather conditions. However, the latter do not seem to affect neighboring Dominican Republic, from which approximately 16.5 million chicks each month are imported.
Cuba also imports eggs from countries such as Colombia and the United States. In fact, the latter are sold in state-owned hard currency stores and by micro, small, and medium enterprises (mipymes).
Online stores on the island also sell eggs from the U.S., although the regime claims that the U.S. embargo prevents it from purchasing basic food products.
Due to the lack of a historically essential food in the diet of Cubans, a carton of eggs has reached astronomical prices in the informal market, which greatly exceeds the minimum salary or pension.
In 2024, Cubans reported the exorbitant cost of a "file" of hen hatchlings: 5,000 pesos on the black market, a price that a worker earning a low salary or a retiree with their minimal pension cannot afford.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Supply Crisis and the Informal Egg Market in Cuba
Why did chaos break out at the La Época store in Sancti Spíritus while trying to buy eggs?
The chaos at La Época store was due to the lack of control and the presence of resellers who monopolized the product. Customers faced pushing, shouting, and a disorganized environment, which led to desperation and violence. The store management did not intervene in the organization of the queue, allowing the resellers to impose their own rules.
What is the current situation of egg production in Cuba?
The production of eggs in Cuba is in crisis due to the State's inability to maintain its supply network. National production has drastically declined, and the country relies on experiments like the "cooperated eggs" scheme, where private actors collaborate with the State to try to alleviate the shortage. The scarcity has led to astronomical prices in the informal market.
How does the partial dollarization of the Cuban economy affect access to basic goods?
Partial dollarization in Cuba has exacerbated inequality in access to basic goods. Stores like the one at 3rd and 70 in Havana sell products in dollars, which limits access for those without foreign currency. Most Cubans are unable to shop at these stores, creating a gap between those who can access basic products and those who must turn to the black market.
What measures have been taken in Cuba to control the resale and hoarding of basic products?
Cuban authorities have attempted to take measures against the resale and hoarding of basic products, but with little success. The presence of "coleros" (line sitters) and resellers remains a significant problem, as evidenced by the chaos at La Época store. Although there have been arrests, the lack of an organized system for distributing basic products continues to feed the informal market.
What are the main causes of the food crisis in Cuba?
The food crisis in Cuba is due to a combination of structural factors such as a lack of supplies, fuel, and inefficient planning. Dependence on imports, an ineffective state distribution system, and partial dollarization also contribute to the scarcity and inequality in access to basic foods. The situation is worsened by the lack of sustainable reforms in the country's agricultural sector.
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