About Caruso Rozzano Farms
Feb 25th, 2009 by Jim
Caruso Rozzano Farms specializes in Italian heirloom vegetables. Jim Caruso, owner and farmer subscribes to the principles of sustainable agriculture, farms organically, and believes that the Buy Fresh, Buy Local movement must become a part of our community building process.
Jim Caruso, a native of Niles, Ohio moved to Lincoln, Nebraska with his family in 1976 from Rochester, New York after being recruited to manage the City of Lincoln’s Community Development Program. In 2003, he moved to Rockford, Illinois as the City’s Community Development Director. In May of 2005, Jim retired and returned to Lincoln. Jim has degrees in Public Administration and Urban Planning and has been involved in community and economic development since 1966 in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Nebraska and Illinois.
Jim’s family, both on his mother’s side (Rozzano’s) and his father’s side (Caruso’s) have always been involved in growing vegetables. Even today in Italy, family members are involved in market farming.
Jim has been actively involved in gardening since childhood. His grandparents on had large gardens that provided the family with food that carried them through the Great Depression and Jim has fond memories of canning vegetables and fruits that were grown in the family garden or purchased at the Pyatt Street Farmers’ Market in Youngstown, Ohio.
As an adult, Jim carried on the tradition with a family garden and after a thirty-eight year career in the community development profession decided to embark upon a new activity. After reading an article in Growing for Market, “Farming: the perfect retirement job?” Jim decided Market Farming would provide him with the physical activity that he desired, allow him the opportunity to do something that he enjoys, and interact with people from those that farm, to those that purchase and in a sense it allows him to continue in community development.
Jim currently volunteers and serves on the advisory board of Nebraska Sustainable
Agriculture Society and was a founding committee member to establish a
Buy Fresh, Buy Local program in Nebraska. Jim also graduated from the first
Nebraska Farm Beginnings Program in 2006.
We are looking for employment on an organic farm. Been farming and ranching all our lives. Want to learn more about organic. Would consider either part time or full time work. We live near Grand Island, but will relocate. Our name is Roger and Sharon Kappelman. Please contact us. Thank you.