A Cuban woman living in the United States expressed her surprise and disappointment after buying a food package meant for her family in Cuba, only to discover it included pork produced in the U.S. Yaiset Rodríguez Fernández, the buyer, revealed that she spent 20 euros, approximately 22.33 U.S. dollars, on five pounds of pork from Indiana Chicken, a brand under Indiana Packers Corporation, which sources its meat from family farms across the American Midwest.
In her post, Rodríguez Fernández highlighted that the product she purchased from one of the online stores set up by the Cuban government to profit from the country's food shortages did not come from a pig raised in Cuba. Instead, it was imported from the U.S. "Logically, people in Havana should be eating pork raised in Havana, or at least from somewhere like Artemisa. Not from Indiana. Yet, the last pork roast I bought for my family in Havana came from Delphi," she explained.
Her message criticizes the fact that, for such prices in Cuba, the pork was bought wholesale in Indiana and shipped to Havana in massive quantities, despite the regime's claims that the U.S. embargo is to blame for the crisis. "What’s clear to you and me is that people in Havana aren't buying or eating pork raised by local farmers because there are two blockades in Cuba: one imposed by the misgoverning system itself and the other, a mental blockade of those who still believe these pork stories," she concluded.
In various online stores like Supermarket and Katapulk, chicken, pork, and beef produced in the U.S. are available for purchase. Meanwhile, the regime continues to justify food shortages and the collapse of the food industry with the so-called "blockade" by the United States, failing to invest in the industry or seek solutions to the crisis.
The lack of effective policies, neglect of genetic infrastructure, absence of real incentives, and collapse of pork production agreements that once sustained the industry have led to a food chaos, forcing many families to rely on expensive online stores for meat. The scarcity of feed, genetic deterioration, theft from fields, and labor shortages are part of the cocktail that has devastated the sector.
Today, the price of pork can exceed 1,000 pesos in many provinces, making it an unattainable luxury for most. Between November 2024 and January 2025, several journalistic reports illustrated the severe collapse of Cuba's pork industry, marking a critical phase in the nation's prolonged food crisis.
Last November, an official report from Santiago de Cuba disclosed local efforts to revive pig farming—an endeavor that seemed impossible amidst a lack of resources, deteriorating production infrastructure, and the loss of genetic capital. Authorities attempted to revive a key sector without the minimum conditions necessary to succeed.
Understanding the Cuban Pork Industry Crisis
Why is pork production in Cuba declining?
Pork production in Cuba is declining due to a series of issues including lack of effective policies, neglect of genetic resources, insufficient incentives, and the collapse of traditional production agreements. Additionally, the scarcity of feed, labor shortages, and theft from agricultural fields have further exacerbated the situation.
What are the impacts of U.S. embargo on Cuba's food industry?
While the Cuban government cites the U.S. embargo as a reason for the food industry crisis, many argue that internal mismanagement and lack of investment are the real culprits. The embargo does impose certain trade restrictions, but the regime's failure to develop local agriculture and infrastructure plays a significant role in the current shortages.
How are Cuban families coping with food shortages?
Cuban families are increasingly turning to online stores that sell imported food products, including pork from the U.S., despite the high prices. Many are forced to buy from these online platforms due to the scarcity and high cost of locally produced meat.