Tropical fruit such as bananas, oranges and pineapples was scarce in the GDR because it had to be bought with hard currency, that is, D-Mark (West German marks) or dollars. What was in short supply was mainly what came from abroad. The GDR did earn hard currency, but it was never enough for everything.
Hard currency was the magic word
The GDR traded a great deal with other countries to get hard currency. A large share of the goods sold by the mail-order companies Otto and Quelle or the clothing chain C&A carried the label “Made in GDR.” Even art and antiques were sold for hard currency. Still, it was never enough to keep the Kaufhallen, the state-run supermarkets, adequately supplied with tropical fruit.
Winter vegetables in the Kaufhalle
In winter, the produce section of the Kaufhalle often had only heads of cabbage, rhubarb juice and canned mixed vegetables to offer. Oranges, pineapples, bananas and grapes were then rarely on display.
Tropical fruit in Berlin and at Advent
As children in the GDR, we still didn’t go without. Berlin was well supplied with tropical fruit, and from there it often made its way to the other districts as Tauschware, goods for barter, for example in exchange for vacation lodging or sought-after products from the region. During Advent, the weeks before Christmas, tropical fruit was also available in Karl-Marx-Stadt (today Chemnitz) and Cottbus.
Apples, pears and the Cuban orange
Otherwise there were apples and pears in season, sometimes cherries, strawberries and fresh pineapple. Diabetics received Bezugsscheine (ration vouchers) for grapefruit; for bananas and melons, people stood in line. Many had a Datsche (weekend garden plot) or a garden with plenty of fruit and vegetables. The Kubaorange, or Cuban orange, was meant to become the GDR’s own tropical fruit for everyone, but the thick-skinned, mediocre-tasting fruit sat unsold on the shelves next to white cabbage and carrots.