Plantains, the Dominican foodstuff par excellence, have now reached the astronomical price of RD$12.00 per unit. This is a banana-like plant, whose fruit is eaten in a wide variety of ways. It is, perhaps, the only food that will be eaten by a normal Dominican family three times a day in different preparations without any complaints. According to Hoy, the “platano” is selling at prices ranging from RD$7.00 to RD$12.00 per unit in Santo Domingo’s markets. They are somewhat less expensive in the Cibao region where plantains are a staple crop. In spite of price increases of up to three pesos per platano, reporters observed housewives fighting over them at local supermarkets. Plantain production currently stands at 12 to 14 million units per month, according to agricultural adviser Blas Olivo. Most experts are aware of the phenomenon, but there is little that can be done about it. First the series of heavy winds that accompanied several hurricanes that crossed parts of the country in early Fall, and then, the onset of attacks by an infestation of Black Sigatoka, the continuous rains and resulting floods that prevented crop maintenance and harvesting, and the normal decrease of plantain production over the winter months have combined to reduce the supply to record low levels. Replanting the fields is at best a ten-month solution, so the country is facing several more months of high prices for one of its favorite ? and traditionally one of its cheapest – foods. Just four years ago a large plantain sold for between RD$0.50 and RD$1.00.