# Raisin cain **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130 "2019-04-27T14:40:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/1 "2019-04-27T14:40:04Z")
I had no idea about the [wars fought](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/27/style/sun-maid-raisin-industry.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage) over raisins in this country. Seems like such a harmless and wholesome food, and yet animosities have resulted in death threats and what might be called a raisin mafia. I wasn’t sure whether to be amused or horrified by the article. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/2 "2019-04-27T15:13:15Z")
Hey, that’s nothing. [Apparently lemons were the reason for the origins of the Sicilian mafia](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mafia-lemons-citrus-sicily-economics)! Some economists [wrote a paper](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/origins-of-the-sicilian-mafia-the-market-for-lemons/52B18A611BD8AE26B4FDE3814A4239F1/core-reader) about it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/3 "2019-04-27T15:22:21Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Hey, that’s nothing. [Apparently lemons were the reason for the origins of the Sicilian mafia](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mafia-lemons-citrus-sicily-economics)! Some economists [wrote a paper](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/origins-of-the-sicilian-mafia-the-market-for-lemons/52B18A611BD8AE26B4FDE3814A4239F1/core-reader) about it. Which brings to mind the classic [Lemon of Troy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_of_Troy) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/4 "2019-04-27T21:13:13Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Hey, that’s nothing. [Apparently lemons were the reason for the origins of the Sicilian mafia](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mafia-lemons-citrus-sicily-economics)! Some economists [wrote a paper](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/origins-of-the-sicilian-mafia-the-market-for-lemons/52B18A611BD8AE26B4FDE3814A4239F1/core-reader) about it. When life gives you lemons, put the squeeze on 'em. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/5 "2019-04-28T00:30:44Z")
The good news is that the raisin story seems to have a happy ending. No one’s singing Kumbaya yet, but no one’s being hung out to dry. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/6 "2019-04-28T00:43:28Z")
Great article, and the photos were amazing! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/7 "2019-04-28T01:18:56Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Great article, and the photos were amazing! I noticed that too - I especially liked the one with the rows of grape vines and the clouds overhead. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/8 "2019-04-28T02:19:02Z")
This was already well documented in the 1980’s: _[Fresno](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090435/?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2)_ 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/9 "2019-04-28T05:49:48Z")
I can’t figure out why everything is going on in Fresno. If you’ve ever driven up through Central California on Highway 99, you’ll pass through Selma. And right there on the big “Welcome to Selma” sign you will see “Raisin Capital of the World!” (actually, I prefer currants…) ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/10 "2019-04-28T19:07:14Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I can’t figure out why everything is going on in Fresno. If you’ve ever driven up through Central California on Highway 99, you’ll pass through Selma. And right there on the big “Welcome to Selma” sign you will see “Raisin Capital of the World!” > > (actually, I prefer currants…) > ~VOW I’ve driven through the San Joaquin many times. I’ve tried to block it all out of my mind. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/11 "2019-04-28T21:50:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’ve driven through the San Joaquin many times. I’ve tried to block it all out of my mind. Highway 99 is a special kind of Hell. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/12 "2019-04-29T03:56:47Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Highway 99 is a special kind of Hell. > ~VOW I was stationed at Lemoore NAS for a couple of years. Or at least it felt like a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/13 "2019-04-29T21:43:19Z")
Interesting story. Thanks for posting. And oddly, I have a hankering for something called “sour raisins”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/14 "2019-04-30T16:49:18Z")
there was a tariff on German trucks that was called the chicken tax. “Its roots are in a trade dispute between the U.S. and Germany in the early 1960s, initially focused on frozen chicken parts. The dispute was dubbed the Chicken Wars, and it’s the topic of a short film by NPR’s Planet Money team.” ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/15 "2019-04-30T18:02:02Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > (actually, I prefer currants…) Actual currants or zante currants? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/16 "2019-04-30T18:48:26Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Hey, that’s nothing. [Apparently lemons were the reason for the origins of the Sicilian mafia](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mafia-lemons-citrus-sicily-economics)! Some economists [wrote a paper](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/origins-of-the-sicilian-mafia-the-market-for-lemons/52B18A611BD8AE26B4FDE3814A4239F1/core-reader) about it. The mafia apparently controls a counterfeit olive oil racket. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Actual currants or zante currants? Zante currants are liars. They’re raisins. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/17 "2019-04-30T19:31:22Z")
So is this the currant state of affairs? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/18 "2019-04-30T20:17:34Z")
Five years ago at this time of year, Mexican drug cartels were tampering with lime sales because they were very profitable. > **[How Mexican drug cartels have caused a rapid increase in lime prices, putting...](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mexican-drug-cartels-caused-rapid-increase-lime-prices-putting-squeeze-bars-cinco-de-mayo-rp)** > > When Cinco de Mayo revelers line up tonight at their local watering holes to celebrate the holiday, they may find their respective margaritas and tequila shots paired with a jarring garnish: lemons. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/19 "2019-05-01T00:00:53Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Five years ago at this time of year, Mexican drug cartels were tampering with lime sales because they were very profitable. > > [How Mexican drug cartels have caused a rapid increase in lime prices, putting a squeeze on bars for Cinco de Mayo | PBS NewsHour](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mexican-drug-cartels-caused-rapid-increase-lime-prices-putting-squeeze-bars-cinco-de-mayo-rp) They eventually went sour on the whole idea. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130/20 "2019-05-01T02:24:49Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Actual currants or zante currants? Zante, if you are baking cookies, or adding to hot cereal. If you can get me a genuine German tart with “actual” currants, I’ll take it, too! ~VOW [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raisin-cain/833130.md?page=2)