The banana republic

Anyone ever wondered what exactly a banana republic is? The answer is Honduras – the mother of all banana republics.
In the late 19th century, several US banana companies looked across the ocean to the fertile earths of Honduras, which has the perfect climate for growing bananas. The Honduran government quickly jumped on the train and encouraged foreign companies to buy lands. The banana industry soon boomed and what stood for only 11% of the country’s exports in 1892 had only 20 years later grown to 66%.
When the larger companies had bought up all the smaller ones, three major rivalling US banana companies remained in Honduras and they played a key role in the country’s economy. To gain further favours and power, the three companies allied with three different political parties and the US banana companies thereby controlled Honduran politics for a long time after.

Honduras' Flag