Silvio LoVerde

Silvio LoVerde learned family values and the intricacies of the produce business growing up in Palermo, Italy. The eldest of four children, he was raised on a farm where the family had grown and harvested fruits and vegetables for five generations. In addition to receiving a formal education in the Italian school system, Mr. LoVerde learned about agriculture and business principles from his father. Following an economic decline in Italy, his father moved the family to the United States and settled in New York City, where their relatives assisted them in the transition. Overcoming the challenges of a new language and living in a new culture, Silvio LoVerde worked toward his dream of finding success in the United States. After a one-year stint in the construction industry, Silvio LoVerde joined his brother in a business venture in 1990. Together they established Two Brothers Produce, a company that sold fruits and vegetables to New York-area distributors, grocery stores, delis, and food service companies. Seven years later, they opened a retail produce and grocery store, Circus Fruits Inc, located in Brooklyn. In 2000, Silvio LoVerde expanded into the wholesale arena with the development of Circus Fruits Wholesale Corp, a large-scale operation that imported produce internationally and sold these products to wholesalers and distributors in states across the country. In 2009, Silvio LoVerde founded a gourmet foods grocery store, Orchard King Corp, which carries his own label, the Vucceria brand. Located in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, the market sells produce and international products to a diverse population. Orchard King Corp offers many varieties of cheeses, cured meats, and grocery staples, not to mention a selection of beer from countries spanning the globe. The Vucceria product line consists of high-quality baked goods, pizzas, fruits and vegetables, sauces, pastas, and other gourmet foods. Catering to the tastes of his multinational clientele, Silvio LoVerde expanded his store to include an on-site European-style bakery, which offers patrons a wide choice of freshly baked bread, pastries, cookies, and decorated cakes.