Carolina Farmin

Upscale grocery trend continues in Wilmington

susan — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:35:36 +0000

Upscale grocery stores have begun popping up across the Port City…”For us it’s competition, but at the same time competition is good,” Carolina Farmin’ spokeswoman Susan Johnson. “We’re very happy that the community has been really receptive to new options in the area.”

Read the entire story here — WWAY TV3 [May 8, 2012]

Buy-local, sustainable movements meet at the fish market

susan — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:45:49 +0000

A growing buy-local-food movement coupled with increasing awareness of over-harvested fish populations has led foodies and shoppers along the North Carolina coast to seek out sustainable, regionally-harvested seafood in ever larger numbers, retailers and conservation experts say.

The buying process is different for some locally-owned food stores, who eschew the use of buyer’s lists in favor of communicating directly with local commercial fishermen to stay abreast of daily catch totals. At Wilmington’s Carolina Farmin’, perishables manager Peter Sloan aims to stock between 85 and 95 percent of the seafood counter with fish snagged from area waters.

Port City’s supermarket boom, Carolina Farmin’ looks to expand

susan — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:21:24 +0000

It’s true that even in lean times people have to eat, but Port City shoppers are finding themselves in the middle of a feast of choices. Homegrown supermarket Carolina Farmin’ is planning to open another store this year, with the possibility of further expansion beyond that.
Read more…StarNewsOnline [March 21, 2012]

You won’t find “pink slime” at Carolina Farmin’

susan — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 02:50:14 +0000

According to reports, 70 percent of the ground beef in supermarkets contains the “pink slime,” but Carolina Farmin’ says you won’t find that there. http://www.wwaytv3.com/2012/03/09/wilmington-shoppers-react-to-pink-slime-found-ground-beef

Store connects consumer, food source

susan — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:30:14 +0000

Wayne Long has a vision. It stems from his early years growing up on the family farm near Shallotte and working in his dad’s two grocery stores. Back then much of the produce for the store was grown on the family farm.

The Long family has been farming for decades. Long himself still likes to “hop on a tractor and sweat a bit, get out and enjoy the quiet.” But he sees a huge disconnect today between the food consumer and the farmer.

Options growing to find good, fresh food in Port City

susan — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:23:59 +0000

Wilmington has become quite particular when it comes to the content of its cuisines. As a result, independent grocers and retailers began stepping up their natural, locally farm-grown and organic offerings in their respective markets. Now, read how your local food providers are are sizing up the “fresh food” competition with the new, west coast grocery giants coming to town in this Greater Wilmington Business Journal story [Jan 2012]

Sweet potatoes a key crop for area farmers

susan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:29:38 +0000

One of Carolina Farmin’s suppliers of fresh, local produce, Teachy Produce of Rose Hill, NC, talks “sweet potatoes” and their status as a primary NC crop in this StarNews story [Nov 2011]

Wayne Long returns to his roots

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:10:11 +0000

Wayne Long knows dirt. He knows the taste of Brunswick County’s soil on his tongue. He knows how it looks under his nails and on the knees of his work pants. More importantly, he knows the flavor it brings to the fruits and vegetables grown in it. Long is part of Prospect Farms, a 65-acre farm near Supply, and his newest venture, Carolina Farmin’, has him back where he was as a kid — on the family farm.

Growing up in Shallotte, Long helped work in his father’s grocery store and on the family’s farm. After graduating from West Brunswick High he attended UNC Chapel Hill, earned a degree in business and returned to the area. He’s a businessman, and until recently his position as CEO of WellCare, a home-healthcare provider, was his only job. Now his path has come full circle.

Read Entire Article in PDF Format

Carolina Farmin’ brings home the groceries for downtown

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:52:16 +0000

Carolina Farmin’, Wilmington’s newest grocery store, celebrated its grand opening this morning with a networking breakfast, speakers, a ribbon-cutting and cake. Located at 2101 Market St., Carolina Farmin’ will serve downtown and the surrounding communities, providing fresh, locally-grown produce as well as locally-caught fish, artisanal cheese and other products.

“We started off two years ago looking to do a farmers’ market-type store but realized that farmers, fishermen and bakers don’t have the time to work a booth every day, so we decided to become the point of contact and provider for farmers and consumers,” said Wayne Long, CEO of Carolina Farmin’.

For Long, who also owns WellCare, a home healthcare provider, opening the store is the culmination of a vision and a lot of hard work.

“A vision isn’t much without 100 people running around to execute it,” he said. “And we had a lot of good people working to make this happen.”

Carolina Farmin’ employs 80 workers at the store, and uses a large network of farmers, fishermen, bakers, grocers and ranchers

“We’re sourcing everything we can locally and our offerings will change with what’s in season. When the oysters are in, we’ll have them by the bushel,” he said to applause from the crowd.

Inside the store, a bakery, gelato bar and coffee shop, showcased fresh-baked goodies from a host of bakers up and down the coast. In the produce section, many of the vegetables are locally-sourced and grown organically, and the signage denotes their farm, giving consumers the knowledge of where their food came from. Long’s emphasis with Carolina Farmin’ rests on perishables, but he insists it is a “whole store, ready to serve all the needs of our community.” To that end, he’s also carrying a variety of frozen and dry grocery goods, and a small selection of other items like detergent, cleaners and household products.

A lunch area, with a small menu featuring made-to-order salads, among other things, uses many of the products sold in the grocery.

New Hanover County Commissioners Chairman Jonathan Barfield spoke, saying, “It is great to finally see a grocery store serving downtown.” He continued saying that he shopped at a neighborhood grocery store that stood on the same spot when he was growing up. Tipping his hat to Long, Barfield called his hiring of 80 people and his use of local contractors and tradesmen to prepare the space, “economic development at its finest.”

Tony McEwan, economic development director for U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, applauded Carolina Farmin’ for “not just looking to make a profit, but truly investing in the community and creating a place for local growers to sell their produce to the public.”

Carolina Farmin’ had petitioned the city to install a crosswalk across Market Street, creating easier access for walking and biking customers, and Angela Koch, community development manager, announced that the crosswalk would be installed in the near future.

Grand opening celebrations will continue through the weekend, with games, prizes and specials each day.

Carolina Farmin’ celebrates grand opening

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:51:19 +0000

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – It’s official! Carolina Farmin’ has opened its doors.

The grocery store, located at 2101 Market Street, will serve downtown Wilmington and has locally farmed produce, meats and seafood for sale.

“The corn you bought here probably slept in the field last night,” said Angela Koch, Carolina Farmin’ Community Development Manager.

And the fish you buy will likely have just come from the waters off of North Carolina, courtesy Brett Blackburn. His fishery, located in Carolina Beach, will supply Carolina Farmin’ with fresh, local seafood.

Owner Wayne Long said his vision was to open a farm fresh grocer. The shop hired 90 employees, boosting the local economy.

The grand opening celebration kicked off Thursday morning and will continue through Sunday.

Because there is limited parking at the market, Carolina Farmin’ asked the City of Wilmington to install a crosswalk so people can walk to the store from surrounding neighborhoods. The city approved and will put a crosswalk near 20th and Market Street.