A trade and agricultural fair organized by the government of Camagüey this Thursday to commemorate the centenary of the birth of dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2016) sparked a wave of criticism on social media after an attendee described the price of 600 pesos per pound of beef offered at the event as "quite affordable."
The fair took place the day before, which is somewhat unusual for a weekday in Camagüey, at three locations in the city: the parking lot of the Cándido González Stadium, the Trocha of INRA, and the Avenida de la Libertad up to Copacabana.
State entities from the 13 municipalities of the province participated with around 90 means of transportation, and additionally, micro, small, and medium enterprises (mipymes) and new economic actors joined in, reported the Facebook page of the emirosa Radio Cadena Agramonte.
Among the available offerings were over 50-60 cattle, smaller livestock, pork, and 41 tons of sausages, in addition to 10 tons of chopped meat, 11 tons of seafood, root vegetables, rice, and more than 4,000 bags of regulated-priced charcoal at 70 pesos per kilogram.
"Anyone who wishes can pay by transfer and not by the limit or anything, that is the best part. And the meat is quite affordable because it's 600 pesos, whereas in other places, beef is 900," assessed a citizen who attended and was interviewed by the news outlet.
However, the public reaction in the comments on the video was predominantly skeptical. "Prices are through the roof, like astronauts," wrote one user. Another noted, "poor selection of meat products," although there were some isolated voices that celebrated the offers.
Skepticism is supported by the numbers. The official average salary in Cuba between January and April 2026 was 7,074 pesos per month, equivalent to between 13 and 17 dollars at the informal exchange rate, while the minimum wage was set at 3,210 pesos since July.
A pound of meat at 600 pesos represents almost 8.5% of the average monthly income of a state worker. Independent economists estimate that a person needs over 70,000 pesos a month just to cover their food needs.
The contrast with other markets also puts the supposed discount into perspective. Days earlier, at a fair in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, pork was being sold at 850 pesos per pound, while in Havana the same meat has fluctuated between 1,000 and 1,500 pesos throughout 2026.
This fair follows a recurring pattern in 2026; specific events of relative abundance tied to political anniversaries. In May, a fair in Camagüey for Mother's Day generated the viral phrase "only root vegetables for the people, the meat is for the leaders."
In July, the government of Cienfuegos organized a fair for July 26, where the provincial coordinator admitted that the goal was for "the population to feel happy on a day like today."
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