The Havana government has introduced a regulation setting maximum prices for agricultural products in the capital, with limits varying according to the type of market. The resolution, signed by Governor Yanet Hernández Pérez, establishes three different pricing tiers: state-run and leased markets, agricultural fairs, and supply and demand markets, including cooperatives and street vendors.
In state-run markets, retail caps remain relatively low. Sweet potatoes and cassava are priced at 30 Cuban pesos (US$1.20) per kilogram, colocasia taro at 60 pesos (US$2.40), xanthosoma taro at 85 pesos (US$3.40), plantains at 35 pesos (US$1.40), and dry onions at 250 pesos (US$10.00).
In supply and demand markets and among street vendors, the permitted prices are higher. Sweet potatoes and cassava reach 45 pesos (US$1.80), colocasia taro 75 pesos (US$3.00), xanthosoma taro 110 pesos (US$4.40), plantains 50 pesos (US$2.00), common beans up to 285 pesos (US$11.40), consumer rice 155 pesos (US$6.20), and dry onions 250 pesos (US$10.00).
Agricultural fairs are authorized to apply intermediate prices. Sweet potatoes, cassava, and plantains are capped at 25 pesos (US$1.00), colocasia taro at 55 pesos (US$2.20), xanthosoma taro at 75 pesos (US$3.00), papaya at 40 pesos (US$1.60), beans between 196 and 285 pesos (US$7.80–11.40), rice at 155 pesos (US$6.20), and dry onions at 200 pesos (US$8.00).
The differences mean the same product can vary considerably depending on the point of sale. Consumers relying on cooperatives, street vendors, or supply and demand markets—usually better stocked than state-run outlets—face higher costs.
The announcement of this regulation followed recent police operations against informal vendors in several Havana municipalities. These actions, part of the IV National Exercise for Crime Prevention and Confrontation, led to confiscations, fines, and arrests. A Havana resident wrote on social media: "The police rounded up people struggling to earn their daily bread by selling produce and cigarettes that the government cannot provide."
The measure repeals earlier regulations, including Resolution 69 of April 2025, and introduces a standardized price structure across the province. The authorities state that the objective is to stabilize the market in the context of inflation, food scarcity, and power shortages.
For many residents, however, street vending continues to be an important means of accessing fruit, vegetables, and grains, despite the risks of fines and product confiscation.
Source: CubaHeadlines