On Friday, the Agroforestry Company of Villa Clara unveiled "La Casa del Forestal," heralded as Cuba's inaugural store of its kind. This unique establishment offers sawdust bags with small fire starters and pine roots for igniting charcoal, starkly illustrating the island's severe energy crisis.
The store opened at the company's headquarters on Buen Viaje Street, opposite the Los Pilongos market in Santa Clara. The event was attended by representatives from the Municipal Assembly of People's Power and Cuba's AgroForestry Group, according to the government portal Soy Villa Clara on Facebook.
Yadira González Barroso, director of the Agroforestry Company in the province, previously stated that the store doesn't sell finished carpentry but rather a broad array of byproducts: including edge cut wood, C-grade planks, construction boards, and beams—items not classified as solid wood but essential for daily life.
Among the standout items are two-kilogram bags of sawdust priced at 290 pesos, pine roots at 250 pesos per kilogram, and charcoal at 125 pesos per kilogram, as revealed in shared images.
The store also stocks coniferous sawn timber for 650 pesos per board, construction boards at 3,000 pesos each, and coffee tables for 1,500 pesos, among other offerings.
The company clarified on Facebook that prices "will reflect the quality of each product and be backed by cost sheets," with regular assessments to potentially lower them "whenever conditions allow."
The entity acknowledged that "no economic activity can sustain itself while incurring losses," yet emphasized its focus on "finding a balance between production sustainability and public benefit."
Authorities view this initiative as a chance for Villa Clara residents to obtain "useful and quality products, showcasing that innovation and resource utilization continue to be ways to overcome challenges."
The public response was largely sarcastic. One user commented, "A step forward and a billion steps back." Another quipped, "We're sawdust in the 19th century."
Some joked that "with just the pine roots, they'll make a fortune since there’s no fuel for wood or charcoal," while others referenced Taino chiefs Hatuey and Guama as symbols of a civilizational regression.
Yet, some acknowledged the store's practical utility. "It's a very good option for Cubans who sometimes need [wood] for our homes," noted one individual. Others urged that prices remain affordable "for the working and needy public," not just those with more resources.
This opening coincides with Cuba's most severe energy crisis in recent history. Since January, the state company CUPET has indefinitely halted liquefied gas distribution in Santiago de Cuba and eastern provinces.
In this collapse, charcoal became the default domestic fuel for millions, with prices soaring to between 3,200 and 5,000 pesos per sack in various provinces, against an average monthly salary of only 6,930 pesos.
Holguin writer José Poveda Cruz illustrated in September that lighting charcoal symbolizes the country's regression: "First, we discovered fire; then we invented progress; and now we are relearning how to ignite it."
Understanding Villa Clara's New Forest Store
What products are available at La Casa del Forestal in Villa Clara?
The store offers sawdust bags with fire starters, pine roots for igniting charcoal, coniferous sawn timber, construction boards, and other wood byproducts.
Why is the opening of this store significant for Cuba?
The store highlights Cuba's ongoing energy struggles and offers innovative solutions by providing essential products for daily life amidst a severe energy crisis.
How has the public reacted to the store's opening?
The public reaction has been largely sarcastic, with some expressing frustration over perceived regression, while others recognize the practicality of the store's offerings.