Lemon farm

Sources:

The podcast features detailed discussions on the intersection of lemon farming and the origins of the Mafia, particularly in Sicily during the 1860s. According to episodes from , early lemon farmers had to make substantial investments to set up their farms, which included digging wells, building barns, and planting trees. This extensive initial investment created opportunities for exploitation by aristocratic landowners who controlled essential resources such as water and transportation, leading to mafia-like behavior marked by contracts with hidden clauses and violent intimidation for non-compliance 1 2 3.

Mafia Origins Unveiled

The roots of mafia behavior in Sicily are traced back to the 1860s, where aristocratic landowners exploited new investors in the lemon industry. Promising assistance, they ensnared newcomers with deceptive contracts and controlled essential resources like water and transportation. This led to pervasive intimidation tactics, illustrating a dark transformation of a beautiful region into one riddled with fear and violence.
Gastropod
Museums and the Mafia: The Secret History of Citrus (encore)
1
2
3

If you’re interested in the broader history of lemon farming and its connection to organized crime, and discuss how the mafia's practices evolved from their control over the citrus industry to other areas, maintaining their dominance and methods of intimidation and violence 1 2.

RELATED QUESTIONS