Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Zanna.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Marco. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Everything started when I decided to give my daughter the chance to learn English, and hopefully Spanish, with full immersion: what better place than Miami to accomplish this?!?
I was born in Rome, Italy. In my country, my business was a car dealer, but I always had a passion for the United States.
In 2011, me and my family, my wife Anna and my daughter Luna, decided to depart for the USA and start a new adventure.
I founded my Company, Best from Italy LLC, which imports Italian products from Italy, but only the true and authentic Made in Italy, with the Capitol M.
I started with Olive Oil Gentili.
Apparently, the majority of the Italians who moved to the US over the time tried to start a business in Olive Oil… but not everybody succeeds!
I immediately realized that the road would have been rough, but that didn’t stop me, in my life I never refused a challenge and my reason to be persistent is Top: my daughter Luna.
My love for Extra Virgin Olive Oil is motivated by its importance for health.
According to journalist Tom Mueller, speaking on the popular CBS News program “60 Minutes,” an astonishing 80% of the extra virgin olive oil sold in the United States does not meet the standards for extra virgin.
To introduce my items and give the customers the opportunity to try and discover the real taste of Italian products, I participated, and I am still doing it, to several Farmer’s Markets around Miami.
When you stop by at my stand, you can imagine making a full immersion trip to Italy without taking a plane: my way to do the business is introducing to the American Customers the producers and the places where the products are made, they can virtually meet the owners and know the areas through the pictures that I show them as they are doing a degustation.
We start from Farnese with Olive Oil Gentili, proceed to Monteroduni with White truffle Oil Prince Pignatelli, stop by Modena with Balsamic Vinegar Acetaia Marchi, go back south to Rome with Pasta Lagano and finish the trip enjoying a cup of coffee Momento Espresso.
Like I said, my first item was Olive Oil Frantoio Gentili, family production since 1820 (fifth generation) using olives grown in Italy, and coming from a specific area (Farnese, upper Lazio, near Tuscany).
When last year, Romolo Gentili came visiting Miami, it was amazing to see his customers so excited to meet him, take pictures with him and get a signed bottle of their beloved olive oil in different locations and stores where this olive oil is regularly sold now, after my introduction.
Below is the link of the video of Romolo Gentili visiting Miami:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgJ63FLZeps
If you want to take a look at the second destination of my virtual tour of Italy, Monteroduni with Prince Pignatelli Olive Oils, enter in the prince’s castle and discover the history of this Italian ancient family, you can click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfh7ZlY-LrY&t=3s
My goal is letting people know the true, authentic Italian product, not modified for the American market.
For the passion I put in my job, my Customers named me “Mr. Olive Oil”, and I am very proud of it!
The suggestion for all shoppers is that it is very important to be informed: When Buying Olive Oil, Knowledge is Power!
Olive oil has been used for thousands of years in Mediterranean cultures. Ancient Greeks knew of its power to heal wounds and eventually they used it to light oil lamps, for cooking and beauty. From ancient times to present-day, olive oil has been used for everything from health ailments to beauty and the home and so much more. Now, evidence shows that a diet based on olive oil can add years to your life and may even prevent some diseases.
“The olive tree is surely the richest gift of heaven.” – Thomas Jefferson
When you taste Extra Virgin Olive Oil you may experience a peppery sensation in the back of your throat that may burn a little — this is from oleocanthol, the antioxidant naturally found in the oil. Sometimes you will cough because it’s so strong— but that’s okay! That is actually considered a compliment to a producer; it means they’re making a very healthy oil. Some people rate oils as one, two or three coughs in terms of intensity.
Mr. Olive Oil’s selection of Italian products is available online on the website, www.bestfromitaly.us, with the possibility of free delivery in the Miami area.
You are invited every Sunday at Village of Merrick Park mall, Coral Gables, at the Farmers Market area, to experience your own virtual trip to Italy with the degustation of Italian products proudly imported by Best From Italy.
BFI-BFY!
Best From Italy
Best For You!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A lot of “so said” Italian (fake) products are already sold in the United States, everybody thinks to know Italian Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Truffle Oil, Pasta…
Only tasting the real, authentic taste of an Italian product they realize the difference, but it’s not easy to have them try at the beginning, because they think to know what I am talking about.
Same situation in the stores: shelves full of olive oils, some of them “so said” Italian, extra virgin… it’s hard to explain to the owner or to a manager that what we have is the real stuff, but once we convince them to try they become our first customers! It’s amazing when they love our products and, among all the ones that they sell, they choose ours for themselves!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Sometimes, good luck is meeting the right person at the right moment.
There is hard work and a lot of passion behind any result, but for sure, good luck is a great help and it’s always welcome!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bestfromitaly.us
- Phone: 305-985-8785
- Email: bestfromitalybestforyou@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bfibfy_bestfromitalybestforyou/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestfromitaly
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BestFromItaly
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
