Carmen Emmi Sr., noted local farmer and real estate developer, died Oct. 31 at age 82. He was the co-founder of the family farm Emmi and Sons and co-owner of Syracuse Farm Supply.
Along with his father, Antonio Emmi, and brother-in-law, Salvatore “Sam” Mangano, Carmen co-founded Emmi and Sons in the 1940s. Today, Emmi’s has farm stands in Baldwinsville and Liverpool. The family farm is also a mainstay at the Central New York Regional Market.
“He loved the farm. His real passion was farming,” recalled Carmen’s son, Tony Emmi.
Tony said Carmen “always seemed like he was one step ahead” when it came to new ideas for the farm.
“He had enough foresight to get more diversified, because you know how tough farming is,” Tony said.
Carmen, along with his sister Marie Mangano and her husband Sam, was a developer of real estate and hotels in the area. In the 1960s, Carmen teamed up with Sam to run Syracuse Farm Supply.
During that time, he also developed a plastic mulch layer, a device that dug a trench, planted corn and covered the seed with plastic all in one step. This sped up the Emmis’ growing season for sweet corn.
“They had corn on the market three weeks earlier than everybody else,” Tony said. “We did that for a few years until everybody caught on [to the technique].”
Carmen also pioneered the use of plastic mulch and trickle irrigation for peppers and tomatoes.
“Everybody was leery of that because of the additional cost of the crop, but usually the yields make up for it,” Tony said.
Carmen’s farming innovations are still used locally today.
In addition to his numerous business ventures, Carmen was heavily involved in his community.
“He grew up in the Syracuse-Liverpool area, but he loved the Baldwinsville area,” Tony said. Carmen’s father, Antonio, bought land in Baldwinsville in the 1960s. In 1994, the Emmis purchased part of the Hafner farm in Clay, buying the rest in 2005.
“He was very excited about that,” Tony said.
An avid outdoorsman, Carmen enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowshoeing. Tony recalls that he and his siblings were always outside with their dad, whether at work or at play.
“He absolutely loved being outdoors all the time,” Tony said. “That was probably the best give he gave to us.”
Tony said his father was quiet, humble and even-tempered.
“Not much would fluster him,” he said.
Tony himself returned to the family farm in 1992 after spending 11 years in the army. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with his father.
“I got to work with him quite a long time, and I’m glad I got to do it,” he said. “He was a good man, a good teacher.”
Tony said there are few farmers like Carmen left these days.
“We’re losing all the old guard,” he said. “They don’t make them like that anymore.”
Carmen leaves behind his wife, Rosemarie Mancuso Emmi; his children, Anthony (Sandy Duncan) Emmi and Joseph (Tina DeFeo) Emmi of Baldwinsville, Carmen (Francine Scuderi) Emmi of Clay, Marc (Francesca Mignacca) Emmi of Liverpool, Nanci (Kevin) Mathewson of Cicero and Ross (Kiersten Warren) Emmi of Liverpool; 17 grandchildren, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren. He is also survived by Ranger, his German shepherd.
Calling hours were held Nov. 3 at Our Lady of Pompei Church with a Mass of Christian burial following Nov. 4. Carmen was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.
For those who would like to make a gift in Carmen’s honor, the Emmi family requests donations to St. Joseph’s Hospital or to the CNY SPCA.
