The Value of Powdered Milk in Cuba

The Value of Powdered Milk

Why is something as simple as milk so scarce and costly in Cuba?

The Value of a Glass of Milk in Cuba

Why something so ordinary to us has become something extraordinary for Cuban families.

Imagine standing in your kitchen, pouring a glass of milk for your child without giving it a second thought.

Now imagine that same glass of milk being a luxury your family can rarely afford.

For many families in Cuba, this is everyday life.

Across Cuba, a combination of declining dairy production, limited imports, supply shortages, and soaring food prices has made something as simple as a glass of milk increasingly difficult to obtain.

Why Doesn't Cuba Produce Enough Milk?

Cuba has dairy farms, cattle, and a long agricultural history. Yet domestic milk production has fallen dramatically.

Official Cuban statistics indicate that cow’s milk production declined from approximately 455,300 metric tons in 2020 to 236,400 metric tons in 2024 — a decrease of roughly 48% in just four years.

The reasons are complex: shortages of animal feed, fuel, agricultural equipment, and veterinary supplies; aging infrastructure; transportation difficulties; and broader economic constraints.

Even when a farmer produces milk, getting it from a rural farm to a processing facility — and then to families — can be difficult when fuel and electricity are unreliable.

Cuba also depends on imported powdered milk to supplement domestic production. Limited foreign currency, disrupted shipping, and import constraints make that supply unpredictable.

Powdered milk offers an important advantage: it can be transported and stored without refrigeration until opened and prepared. That matters enormously in communities facing frequent power outages.

For families, it represents more than convenience. It can mean having a dependable source of nutrition when fresh milk is unavailable.

The Price of Milk vs a Monthly Salary in Cuba

Here is where the reality becomes especially difficult to comprehend.

A single pound of powdered milk could consume nearly THREE TIMES an average worker’s entire monthly salary.

Think about that.

Not groceries for the month. Not a complete nutritional diet.

Just one bag of milk powder.

And that leaves the family still needing rice, beans, eggs, cooking oil, vegetables, toiletries, transportation, and all the other necessities of life.

Why a Bag of Powdered Milk Matters So Much

For those of us accustomed to well-stocked grocery stores, powdered milk may seem like a modest donation.

In Cuba, it can be a meaningful gift.

It can help a grandmother prepare breakfast for her grandchildren. It can provide a family with a source of protein and calcium. It can offer parents some relief from the constant challenge of finding and affording nutritious food.

And because powdered milk is compact, relatively easy to transport, and does not require refrigeration before preparation, it can be especially useful in communities where reliable electricity and fresh dairy products are scarce.

Of course, milk alone cannot solve a family’s nutritional needs. Infants require age-appropriate feeding, and all milk powder must be prepared with safe water and handled hygienically.

But for children and families who can safely consume it, access to powdered milk can make a genuine difference.

A Small Gift. A Meaningful Difference.

At Shared Resolve, we believe meaningful change often begins with something simple: friends helping friends, communities supporting communities, and people choosing to show up for one another.

Sometimes, it’s something as ordinary as a bag of powdered milk.

Because what we see as a pantry staple, another family may see as a precious opportunity to nourish their children.

We cannot solve every challenge facing Cuba. But we can learn, build trust, honor our commitments, and work alongside our Cuban friends to make life a little better — one family, one neighborhood, and one act of kindness at a time.

That’s the heart of Shared Resolve.

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