“hmm blockaded country that can’t import food/crops can’t feed their people. maybe they should simply grow crops and feed their people”

Why can't they import food/crops? Do you believe that Cuba has 0 trade partners? Can you source any evidence of a "blockade" in place? I don't recall seeing ships surrounding Cuba stopping all boat shipments. You realize that the last real blockade that was established around Cuba was dismantled in the 1980's right? 6.6% of their current imports are from the USA. So not only is there no Blockade... but just an embargo... and not only is there an embargo, but one that's so toothless that we are on their major importer list even though they've had decades to work without the USA.