Campania is one of the leading regions in Italy for tobacco cultivation and processing. In the early 20th century, it was home to three of the country's 18 state-owned tobacco factories, second only to Tuscany. The cultivation of tobacco leaf was also very important in some areas of Campania. Specifically, Cava dei Tirreni in the province of Salerno was one of the earliest localities to cultivate tobacco in the pre-unification period. Tobacco cultivation and processing expanded significantly in Campania in the decades following unification and into the early 20th century, with new varieties introduced from America. However, working conditions for tobacco processors were problematic during this time period.