Businessman, Inventor, Philanthropist. Rossi was born in Sicily, Italy. He came to America at the age of 21. He found work as a machinist helper before becoming a cab driver, which led to buying and operating his own limousine and chauffer service. He owned and operated a self-serve supermarket and was involved in the food service industry. He moved from New York to the west coast of Florida seeking a climate more like his native Italy. After operating two food service businesses he became involved in the citrus industry. He would pack and ship premium gift boxes of citrus sold in NY area at Macy's and other retail outlets. Due to his high quality standards he found he had many smaller oranges and grapefruits that were not worthy of his gift boxes. That culled fruit led him to start Florida Fruit Industries, Inc., which became Tropicana Products. Tropicana grew from 50 employees to a company that employs over 8000. He was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in 1987. Rossi had the equivalent of a high school education yet educated himself and became a mathematician and mechanical engineer. He invented and held patents on equipment he designed that made it possible to transport fresh not-from-concentrate orange juice from Florida to the populated New York and Northeast market. While Anthony Rossi was a very successful entrepreneur and creative businessman, he is most remembered by those who knew him as a generous deeply devout Christian. He funded the Aurora Foundation and the Bradenton Missionary Village now known as Il Villaggio, as well as founded a Bible Church in his hometown in Italy.
Businessman, Inventor, Philanthropist. Rossi was born in Sicily, Italy. He came to America at the age of 21. He found work as a machinist helper before becoming a cab driver, which led to buying and operating his own limousine and chauffer service. He owned and operated a self-serve supermarket and was involved in the food service industry. He moved from New York to the west coast of Florida seeking a climate more like his native Italy. After operating two food service businesses he became involved in the citrus industry. He would pack and ship premium gift boxes of citrus sold in NY area at Macy's and other retail outlets. Due to his high quality standards he found he had many smaller oranges and grapefruits that were not worthy of his gift boxes. That culled fruit led him to start Florida Fruit Industries, Inc., which became Tropicana Products. Tropicana grew from 50 employees to a company that employs over 8000. He was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in 1987. Rossi had the equivalent of a high school education yet educated himself and became a mathematician and mechanical engineer. He invented and held patents on equipment he designed that made it possible to transport fresh not-from-concentrate orange juice from Florida to the populated New York and Northeast market. While Anthony Rossi was a very successful entrepreneur and creative businessman, he is most remembered by those who knew him as a generous deeply devout Christian. He funded the Aurora Foundation and the Bradenton Missionary Village now known as Il Villaggio, as well as founded a Bible Church in his hometown in Italy.
Gravesite Details
Founder of Tropicana Products, Bradenton, FL
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
