Cubans’ Obsession with Potatoes Takes Over in Havana
It’s a major event in the Cuba capital
By Juan Diego Rodriguez (14ymedio)
HAVANA TIMES – Potatoes have just arrived at the rationed markets in Havana and Cubans do not need a town crier to alert the population. With bags on their shoulders or carts in hand, the members of the line closed ranks this Thursday in front of the Arango and Lugo grocery store, in the Luyano neighborhood.
“They will give [sell] three pounds a head,” predicts a woman. The comment fuels the excitement of those present, who already see the coveted tuber prepared in all possible ways: fried, but there is no oil; with sauce, but there is no tomato; with meat, but the cows have disappeared; with minced meat, but the Cuban pig is just as elusive.
The eternal dilemma of not having the right ingredients is a realist’s challenge that those waiting in line in Luyano are not willing to accept – at least for now. “The important thing is to get there,” repeats a gray-haired Havana resident. The line, he explains, distracts him from the blackout that has fallen on Luyano since morning and the lack of internet, the umpteenth “collateral damage” of the energy crisis.
“There has always been an obsession with potatoes here,” says a housewife, impassive but without leaving her place in the line. “This doesn’t happen in the countryside: of course, they don’t ’swing’ it so much because they have it at hand, but we…” She is not wrong. This week, several provincial newspapers announced the distribution of potatoes in their markets.
In some provinces, the arrival of the potato – right at the beginning of Lent – took on messianic overtones: The State company Acopio distributed 5,000 tons of the tuber in Ciego de Ávila coinciding with the visit of Gerardo Hernández, the former spy for the regime in the US who ended up becoming president of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, a synchronicity that Invasor celebrated .
The truck that transports the potatoes stands between the line and the object of their desire. Unloading is slow and the message has not yet reached all homes, says one of the customers, for whom the line – which moves from one side of the street to the other, fleeing the sun and dodging cars – is still not very long.
For several months now, there has been “potatoes on the street,” a phrase that describes the availability of the product in the informal market. At 350 pesos per pound (just over US $1.00), a cart driver or street vendor can provide families in Havana with the coveted tuber. “It’s not much, maybe three medium-sized potatoes, or nine small potatoes, but from what you can see on the truck, they’re not very big,” says another woman, already hopeless.
For the majority of workers who receive the equivalent of $7 to $13 USD a month, or a $5 USD pension, the only time they can afford potatoes is when they appear at the ration stores, thus the commotion these days.
“Potatoes! The news of the day!” exclaims one of the ration store’s neighbors from the doorway of his house. Until the last sack is sold, there will be no talk in his neighborhood of anything other than potatoes.
Translated by Translating Cuba.
This is what should be shown at UN for the world to see the misery of our beautiful Cuba.
Havanaman stated that it is time for change for Cubans. I am sure no one would disagree with that sound statement. Political change is absolutely needed in Cuba today.
However, he further asserts “You can do it but just don’t talk about it before you start!” Was that a facetious statement or a genuinely serious assertion? If the latter, then Havanaman you may want to read HT’s poignant article entitled “Cuban Mothers Who Protest and the Power that Represses Them.” dated March 9, 2025.
In that article a series of Cuban mothers have indeed talked and acted defiantly on Cuban streets – in their neighborhoods – about their miserable daily struggles. Cuban women and men have protested out of sheer frustration, asking for food, electricity, and freedom among other basic human rights.
And what reaction have they received from the Cuban authorities? Don’t take my word for what happened: “There were no surprises in how the local government decided to handle the discontent. Police patrols arrived at the protest.” (quoted directly from the HT mentioned article).
Moreover, State Security agents, National Revolutionary Police (PNR) and agents in plainclothes plied police intimidation and threats at Cuban mothers for standing up and defending their children against a brutal totalitarian state apparatus.
One, Yadiuska Dominguez, a protester, a mother, was threatened by a State Security colonel with severe consequences if she protested again or shared information about her demonstration activities. She had the audacity to broadcast her “illegal” demonstration activities on social media and was warned of severe retribution towards her.
Havanaman, given the Cuban government authorities public punishing police procedures to street demonstrations carried out by innocent defenceless Cuban mothers, you unequivocally state Cubans: “. . . go to the streets and initiate change from within.” How nice it is to sit in your nice comfortable surroundings and prognosticate to desperately poor defenceless Cuban mothers to initiate change in a relentlessly brutal totalitarian regime.
In the same circumstances, would you encourage your mother to go out to the streets and initiate change from within Cuba knowing full well the brutal repercussions awaiting her final outcome?
Again, you castigate Cubans stating: “Cubans are their own worst enemy by talking too much on both sides of the pond.” No, Cubans, at least the one’s living on the island, are definitely not their own worst enemy – far from it. They are under surreal siege by a ruthless totalitarian regime.
Cuban mothers, Cuban youth, and others are trying to do their upmost for political change in Cuba today; however, all Cubans seeking that illusive change face a Herculean challenge which need not be diminished by trite talk.
Yes…the new revolution is coming….castros days are outnumbered and Canel diaz days are outnumbered and near ….we are watching you ….cuba will soon be free…
@Kenneth. They have sweet potatoes in Cuba. Also often rationed by the regime to 5 lbs per person. As there is no reasonably priced dog food in Cuba I used to feed my boxer dogs with boiled sweet potatoes and they thrived on it with shiny coats.
Feeling guilty I would bring cans of Pedigree Chum back with me in my luggage. Cuban customs were concerned about “Mad Cow Disease” so made sure no beef cans although I did tell them that I also ate the dog food because there was no meat in the so called “shops”. Just received blank looks but if I had been Cuban I would have gone to jail.
The pinchos (fossilized generals) are so corrupt as are the customs officials and now everybody in Cuba in order to survive.
If Trump and especially Marco Rubio, would spend just a moment of their time on the theme of Cuba the regime might just collapse.
It’s time for change people of Cuba, if Trump and Rubio don’t step up to the plate then go to the streets and initiate change from within. You can do it but just don’t talk about it before you start! Cubans are their own worst enemy by talking too much on both sides of the pond.
Plant sweet potatoes
Listen to Havanaman!
What a shame that 3 potatoes would cost a Cuban about 10% of their monthly salary. Was like this 20 years ago.
Hello, I would like to make a correction in one sentence in your article. The government if Cuba does NOT GIVE 3 pounds of potato. The sell it. Ok Nothing is given by the communist regime in Cuba. Except. HUNGER. MISERY. AND NO FREEDOM
It’s pathetic. Every year the same problem, either too much rain, too little rain, no transport, potatoes gone rotten on trucks, Cuban airline pilots “seeing” CIA planes spray potato fields with thrips virus.
Such a fertile island but central “planning” has caused the ruin of agriculture in Cuba. After all Karl Marx wrote the book “How to destroy a country”.
Come on Cubans, organise yourselves, STOP talking and go to the streets with SILENT protest all at the same time. The regime will melt away faster than butter (of which there is none) in the Cuban Sun.