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 It was spring in Southern Italy. The sun warmed the monastery’s beautiful olive orchard and Neal and Adriane McWeeney were out for a morning walk. As they passed the old San Giovanni D'Ajmo Monastery's estate, a soft breeze blew in off the Adriatic Sea and the trees shimmered in response. For a moment, the leaves looked like they were made of silver ... and, there, amidst the sparkling olive trees, SilverLeaf was born.
Dominican friars planted the orchard in the early years of the Middle Ages, and more than 2000 olive trees still stand today. In the late 1700s, the Monastery became a summer palace for Ruffo and Bagnara princes of Italy. Back then, royal treasure filled the princes' coffers; today, the olives and the previous oil they hold are the treasure. SilverLeaf's Library Collection of extra-virgin olive oils are grown, harvested and bottled on this 18th-century site.
It's somehow appropriate for the McWeeney’s to carry on such tradition. Adriane and Neal have loved good food since they were teens (long before they even met each other). As retailers, they bring nearly 30 years of direct experience to every product--from product development to marketing to moving product through distribution and retail chains onto store shelves. As cooks, they're simply unmatched, fusing food and traditions into mouth-watering dishes. As hosts, their parties are the best invitation in town.
 Inspired by those shimmering leaves that spring day in Southern Italy and the things they simply love, the McWeeney’s settled into their Houston-area community and began building their company with a fresh approach and a distinct focus on innovative combinations. In 2005, SilverLeaf International included the Library Collection of 5 varieties of first-pressed oils. Within a year, the company acquired Hösgood's, the makers of Epicurean's Delight marinated garlic, sauces, seasonings, stuffed olives and olive salads.
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