4 Generations of Farming Excellence: Taste the Tradition at Our Farm.
Our story
Lenny Bruno Farms is a 4th generation business whose roots began when Dominick, an Italian immigrant who came to Manorville from Ozone Park Queens, became the only farmer of Italian decent in the area. He used a horse and wagon to transport the produce he grew. Dominick made his own wine, raise rabbits, and built the farm’s first greenhouse to grow the seedlings that would be planted in season. Dominick personified the American work ethic but never lost his broken English accent.
His son Lenny represents the 2nd generation and volunteered to join the Navy during WWII even though he could have had a farm deferment. The main crop grown at that time was potatoes which were stored in the barns and sold throughout the winter. Cabbage, cauliflower, peppers, and tomatoes accounted for the rest of the acreage. Lenny would work in the fields until dark, grab a few hours of sleep, and then go to the Bronx Terminal Market and Hunts Point Market. This routine would be repeated several times during the week.
Picked with care
Lenny’s sons, Dominic and Dana whom are part of the 3rd generation, introduced drip irrigation to the farm to boost crop yields, reduce the need for weeding, and to more efficiently water the fields. They also diversified crop selection by ordering specialty plants from southern growers, thereby further expanding the vision of Lenny Bruno Farms.
Our story. Our vision. Our passion.
Dominic’s sons Dominick and Anthony make up the 4th generation of farmers to continue the legacy of not only growing vegetables but also establishing an agritourism area for their customers, as well as introducing festival events throughout the year. As Lenny Bruno Farms continues to expand its footprint, its produce is sold to restaurants, chefs, commercial accounts and direct to the public through our farm stand.
Our farm stand also developed from humble beginnings, ‘a shack’ as our long-time customers fondly remark to Dominic’s wife Teresa who manages the farm stand. Over the years Teresa is on a first name basis with many of her customers. Teresa’s daughter Danielle has a loyal following with her homemade baked goods. The farm stand has grown along with the community with pick your own vegetables becoming for some, a family tradition. Plum tomatoes top the list, a testament to our founder Dominick’s belief that homemade tomato sauce is better than anything you can buy from a store. At Lenny Bruno Farms ours focus is providing fresh vegetables and a personal service that only a family owned farm can offer to our customers. Lenny used to say, “he never worked a day in his life.” The reason was he enjoyed what he did seven days a week. Lenny Bruno Farms is committed to the idea of putting a seed in the ground, nourishing it to grow, and sharing the harvest with the community.
“I prefer to do all of my shopping at Lenny Bruno Farms. Their vegetables, the pies, local eggs, and honey are quality. I had the best tomato I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. The variety of corn they grow when roasted is so sweet it doesn’t need any butter.”
- Mark C.
