The peaceful transfer of power from Bonilla…

The peaceful transfer of power from Bonilla to General Sierra in 1899 is important as the first time in decades that such a constitutional transition has taken place, but this year is a watershed in another, even more important, sense.

In 1899 the Vaccaro brothers of New Orleans, founders of what will become the Standard Fruit and Steamship Company (later known as Standard Fruit Company), ship their first boatload of bananas from Honduras to New Orleans.

The fruit finds a ready market, and the trade grows rapidly.

By 1902 local railroad lines will be being constructed on the Caribbean coast to accommodate the expanding banana production.