In the small community of Breña, located in Cumanayagua, Cienfuegos, a dedicated bakery worker is taking extraordinary measures to ensure his neighbors can continue enjoying fresh bread. A video shared on Facebook by Yasma Duardo highlights the daily efforts of Wilfredo, who manually hauls logs from nearby forests to fuel the bakery's oven.
Wilfredo, the man featured in the video, describes his daily routine, which involves gathering wood from the hills and carrying it by hand to the bakery. "I work here in the bakery and I'm the one who brings the wood," Wilfredo explains. When asked if this is a daily task, he responds without hesitation, "Every day."
What stands out is his method of transportation. Without the aid of carts or any lifting equipment, Wilfredo carries the logs on his shoulders.
Adapting to New Realities
The bakery hasn't always operated this way. Wilfredo recalls a time when the oven ran on electric current and petroleum. However, due to the current lack of fuel and unreliable electricity, wood from the forests is now the sole resource available. "It's been a few years now that we've been using wood," he mentions about the bakery's oven.
Beyond his bakery duties, Wilfredo also works nights at a private dairy farm, adding to his already exhausting workload.
A Return to Old Practices
Wilfredo's situation is not unique. Across Cuba in 2026, bread production has regressed to pre-industrial methods. In Holguín, Matanzas, Guantánamo, Havana, and Camagüey, bakeries are forced to use wood-fired ovens due to the inability to operate with electricity or fuel.
For instance, in Guantánamo, flour is transported by mules, and bread is baked in wood-fired ovens. In Jovellanos, Matanzas, nine workers produce over 6,000 loaves daily using an oil furnace adapted for wood. A bakery in Holguín employs extra shifts but only meets 50% of the demand with its wood-fired oven.
Government's Perspective on the Crisis
The Cuban government has labeled these measures as "creativity" or "circular economy." In September 2025, Camagüey's government officially inaugurated a wood-fired oven in a bakery, promoting it as a solution to the ongoing energy crisis.
The situation is compounded by a severe flour shortage. The Ministry of the Food Industry received only 55% of the expected wheat in the first half of 2025. This shortfall has led to reduced bread distribution, such as in Mayabeque, where bread is available only once every four days. On the black market in Havana, a bag of eight rolls sells for 500 pesos.
The Breña video also reveals another critical issue: the community’s water supply depends on electric pumps. "When there's a problem with the power, there's no way to pump water here," Wilfredo notes, summarizing how power outages not only cut off electricity but also water and bread.
Understanding Cuba's Bread Production Challenges
Why is Wilfredo carrying wood every day?
Wilfredo carries wood daily to fuel the bakery's oven, as there is no reliable supply of electricity or fuel to operate it otherwise.
How are Cuban bakeries adapting to the energy crisis?
Cuban bakeries are reverting to pre-industrial methods, using wood-fired ovens and manual labor to overcome the lack of electricity and fuel.
What has the Cuban government said about these measures?
The government has referred to these adaptations as examples of "creativity" and "circular economy," despite the regressive nature of the solutions.