Direct Farm Products Sales to Hotels Begins

HAVANA TIMES, Dec 1 — Starting today, Cuban farmers can sell their products directly to the tourism sector entities, meaning their sales will no longer have to pass through state-run intermediaries.

The various types of Cuban agricultural cooperatives and state enterprises with organoponicos (urban organic gardens) are now authorized to sell “non-industrialized agricultural products,” rice and charcoal to hotel complexes and other tourism entities. The regulations further provide that prices will be agreed upon between the parties and will always be paid in Cuban national pesos.

The new approach aims to achieve greater dynamism, variety and quality in providing these products for tourism as well as to reduce transportation costs and losses, reported Prensa Latina.