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A pinch of hot summer weather, a dash of mild winter, and a drop of volcanic soil – Sicily’s conditions offer the perfect recipe for growing olives. And the island is a hotspot for olive oil production. The thriving commodity, however, also comes with a dollop of controversy: Mafia influence.
Collette’s Senior Product Design Manager Shannon Levi explained that the Mafia asks farmers for protection money, or pizzo. Those who do not pay the fee face consequences, ranging from property damage, to crop destruction, or worse.
Enter Nicola Clemenza and Azienda Agricola Futura. Nicola’s farm set in the Trapani area of Sicily is dedicated not only to sustainable farming practices and authentic, quality oils, but also displays a firm and public stance against the Mafia.
His principles haven’t gone unnoticed.
“Nicola Clemenza is a hero,” Elena Delzanno, a fellow Collette product design manager said. “He does not obey the ‘rules’ that the Mafia try to impose on farmers. So, they burned down part of his house.”
Shannon explained that Nicola created a consortium of farmers who refused to pay the protection fees or work with the Mafia. He also works with Adiopozzo, a group of broader business owners who refuse to pay the pizzo. “This is one of the things I admire the most about Nicola Clemenza, that he faced the risk of losing everything, not just his farm and his olive trees, but his family, his own personal health. And he still stood up against these people.”
Shannon stressed that it’s important for travellers to learn about a destination’s culture and taboo situations from local people.
“What really makes a destination come alive is the relationships we build with local people,” Shannon said. “It’s the opportunity to meet and chat and ask questions and break bread together, laugh about things and discover that as different as we may be, fundamentally as human beings, we share the same concerns and the same cares. That’s possible when we take the time to stop at a place like Nicola’s olive grove and really take a moment to be human-to-human, ask questions, and share our experiences.”
Travellers can get a taste of this unique farm and support Nicola on our Sicily and Its Isles tour.
