A woman named Geneida Herrera shared a video on Facebook last Saturday that has garnered over 635,000 views. In the video, she describes her experience battling a crowd to buy beef at the informal market known as "El Karaoke" in Trinidad, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus.
Herrera, posting from the Hostal Mirelis profile, explains how she managed to secure a bag containing four pounds of beef for 3,200 Cuban pesos—800 pesos per pound—but the ordeal left her visibly shaken. The crowd pressed her against the sales truck, nearly causing her to lose her glasses.
"This was my first time buying beef. I got the four-pound bag for 3,200. But what a scare! The crowd pushed me against the truck, I was frightened, until I decided to use all my strength to get out, my goodness," she wrote in her post.
In the video, clearly distressed, she adds, "1,000 pesos for the neck, that's how I ended up after getting the beef, they almost took my glasses, what a fright I have."
Herrera clarified that she wouldn't have put herself in that situation if it weren't for her mother: "I had to do it for my mom who needs it, otherwise I wouldn't take such a risk."
Besides beef, the market offered neck cuts at 1,000 pesos per pound and ribs at 500 pesos.
El Karaoke Market: A Struggle for Essential Goods
The "El Karaoke" market—named after a nearby karaoke venue—operates solely on Saturdays and serves as the primary source of fresh food for Trinidad residents, involving nearly 50% of the local agricultural production bases.
Despite being somewhat less expensive than other sales points, the prices remain out of reach for most Cubans.
The average monthly salary in Cuba hovers around 7,000 pesos, meaning the four pounds of beef Herrera purchased account for nearly half of a worker's monthly earnings.
Economic Hardships and Rising Food Prices in Cuba
The scene is emblematic of the food price crisis plaguing Cuba, exacerbated when the regime lifted price caps via Resolution 150/2026 on June 21.
Since then, rice has increased from 30,000 to 31,800 pesos per 25-kilogram sack in just 48 hours, while oil prices have surged from 1,400 to 1,800 pesos per liter.
According to the Food Monitor Program, 96.91% of the Cuban population lacks adequate access to nutritious food, and 33.9% of households have had at least one member go to bed hungry in the past 30 days.
This situation in Trinidad is not new. Back in November 2024, during a visit to Sancti Spíritus, the Cuban Vice President herself noted that beef was a "luxury" for the population when the price per pound was around 2,755 pesos.
By this July, that price exceeded 800 pesos per pound at the same market, although in other markets across the country it has reached 1,000 pesos.
The collapse of national agricultural production worsens the scenario: pork production fell from 200,000 tons in 2018 to just 9,000 by 2026, and basic goods are increasingly scarce in the Island's markets.
Herrera's video received 10,819 likes and 511 comments, becoming yet another testament to the daily struggles Cubans face to access basic food supplies.
Understanding Cuba’s Food Crisis
What are the current food prices in Cuba?
Food prices in Cuba have surged significantly. For example, beef can cost up to 1,000 pesos per pound, rice has increased to 31,800 pesos per 25-kilogram sack, and oil is sold at 1,800 pesos per liter.
How is the economic situation affecting Cuban citizens?
The economic situation in Cuba is dire, with many citizens unable to afford basic necessities. The average salary is around 7,000 pesos per month, making essential goods like beef a luxury for most.
What has caused the food crisis in Cuba?
The food crisis in Cuba is largely due to economic mismanagement by the regime, removal of price caps, and a significant decline in national agricultural production.