The Food Supply in the USSR during the Late Brezhnev Years: An Inside Look at Moscow and Smaller Towns

The era of Brezhnev saw a complex and often flawed food supply system in the Soviet Union, particularly in major cities like Moscow and smaller towns where resources were more limited than elsewhere. This period was marked by both innovative measures to address food shortages and unsavory practices that could have political implications.

Resource Allocation and Distribution

Food distribution in the Soviet Union during the Brezhnev era was notoriously uneven. While Moscow and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) were well-provisioned, other regions, especially the Baltic states and rural Russia, faced much more scarcity. This disparity in food supply created a stark difference in living standards and availability of goods between urban and rural areas.

The Soviet regime employed various types of markets to manage food distribution. Government-controlled stores were the primary distribution channels, but there were also non-official 'black' markets, farmer's markets, and semi-legal traders. This diversity in marketplaces added complexity to the overall supply chain.

Food Staples and Substitutes

The most basic food items such as bread, potatoes, and sugar were available in most establishments, although the quality could be inconsistent. Potatoes, for example, often came in an unnatural blue color due to the use of chemical fertilizers. Meat was particularly scarce, with some innovative—and perhaps questionable—solutions emerging. To combat the meat shortage, the government introduced "Fish Days," a initiative wherein all restaurants and cafes served only fish dishes, specifically on Thursdays. The joke at the time was that "the best fish is a sausage," reflecting the creative means used to manage the scarcity.

Despite these efforts, the "Fish Days" scheme inadvertently exacerbated the already precarious fish supply. Furthermore, seasonal fruits and vegetables were limited; seasonal groceries like cucumbers, tomatoes, and other perishables were seldom available outside their natural growing months. The occasional appearance of bananas or lemons in stores was a rare and valuable commodity. In response to these scarcity issues, citizens commonly carried an "avoska," a small bag often carried in pockets or purses that could expand to hold groceries. This makeshift solution allowed individuals to gather necessities quickly when a store had an unexpected abundance of goods.

Consumer Goods and the Black Market

While food shortages were a significant concern, the lack of consumer goods was another major issue. Consumer electronics like TVs, books, and radios were difficult to come by, and even Soviet-made cars could take years to acquire, often requiring a cash payment equivalent to five to six years of a doctor's salary. Some fashion items, like jeans, could only be found on the black market, which had become a thriving and often dangerous network.

For certain goods, particularly luxury items or those in high demand, the black market was the only viable option. People could purchase items like Soviet-made cars almost immediately through black market transactions. However, the risk of such transactions was high, as convictions for black market activities could result in severe penalties, including the death penalty for certain crimes. The existence of the black market highlighted the stark inequalities within Soviet society, where some individuals had access to goods that others could only dream of.

Conclusion

The food supply in the USSR during the Brezhnev era was a complex and often contentious issue, with major disparities between urban and rural areas, and within cities themselves. The government attempted various solutions, but these often created their own set of challenges. The black market played a significant role in addressing the shortage but at the cost of legal and personal safety. The period was characterized by both ingenuity and desperation, as citizens and officials alike struggled to make ends meet under a system that was both flawed and in constant flux.