The Potato Came / Anddy Sierra Alvarez

It’s heard in the streets from several people selling potatoes, before the arrival of this product in the farmers markets, at the elevated price of 20 Cuban pesos, “a bag with four potatoes.”
“Until when,” says Sofia, a lady of 58, “it’s true that this is a bunch of crap we have to go through,” she continues indignantly. After the loss of production this tuber continues to be scarce over the full season.

After a week, it started to show up in the farmers markets, “desired by the citizens,” but then another challenge begins, how to buy it? The lines in some of the markets in the capital are stunning (and not all the markets are selling this product), with arguments, debates, fights, scams, and diversion of goods, all increasing the desperation to get home with a few potatoes to enjoy the lost flavor from a year ago.

“Even when” a woman said Stephanie, 58, “it is true that this is crap so you have to go” continues to express the indignant lady. After the loss of production is brought about by the shortage of potatoes in a full season.

For Cubans, the potato is the savior of many families, with a scrap of chicken and a lot of vegetables you can feed an army, hence the expression, “the potato helps.”

Translator’s note: The word for potato in Spanish, papa, and the word for pope, Papa, are the same. That nuance is not captured in this translation.

27 February 2012