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Carolina Farmin’ story & mission,  Meet our team

The Carolina Farmin’ Story:
Carolina Farmin’ started as one man’s vision for his community and passion for everything North Carolina has to offer. Wilmington entrepreneur and community leader Wayne Long saw Carolina Farmin’ as a way to turn back the clock to simpler times when homegrown food was the norm.

The mission of Carolina Farmin’ is simple: to invigorate our community and revive the agricultural heritage of the Carolinas by selling locally grown and produced farm-fresh foods and strengthening the health and welfare of the community in which we live and work.  Simply put — Carolina Farmin’ loves the food and folks of North Carolina and wants you to love them too.

Meet Our Team

Wayne Long

Position: CEO  |  Responsible for: The vision, mission and everything that is Carolina Farmin'.

It’s not uncommon to see Wayne walking the aisles of Carolina Farmin’ — chatting with customers, writing down suggestions on his notepad and tending to details that make your shopping experience special.  A successful entrepreneur in the healthcare industry, Wayne grew up on his family farm in Shallotte and worked in his father’s small grocery store.  Carolina Farmin’ is a return to that time.   His vision is all about food grown, caught and baked by your neighbors; fresh, quality ingredients and people who care about what’s on your table.  “There’s nothing fancy here,” he says, “just good old down-home food, true Southern hospitality and a desire to stand behind everything we do.”

Ben Long

Position: Carolina Farmin' General Manager, CEO of Central Market  |  Responsible for: Day-to-day operations of the store and the overall operations of the food distribution business

Ben wears three hats at Carolina Farmin’. As General Manager, he’s responsible for the day-to-day operations of the store. As a CEO, he runs our Central Market operation that supplies great, local foods to area chefs, restaurateurs and food purveyors.  And, as a farmer, he represents Prospect Farms, which has been in his family for three generations and supplies collards and other seasonal produce. He’s passionate about Carolina Farmin’ because of their commitment to promoting area suppliers and allowing customers to put their hard-earned dollars back into the local economy.

Mark Enfield

Position: Grocery Manager  |  Responsible for: Grocery, dairy, frozen, bulk, beer & wine, floral and gift departments. Local foods buyer.

Mark oversees grocery, dairy, frozen, bulk, beer and wine, floral and the gift center departments. His father’s experience in the grocery business has fostered his passion for the work he does.  Mark’s lived in Wilmington since 1999, and he’s grown to love the outdoor lifestyle the area offers. On the weekend if you can’t find him on his boat or on the golf course, he’s in his back yard grilling some fine Carolina Farmin’ steaks.

Peter Sloan

Position: Perishables Manager  |  Responsible for: Meat, seafood, deli/kitchen, bakery and produce departments. Local foods buyer.

Peter is instrumental in managing day-to-day activities both in and out of the store. He connects with partners to find the best products for the Carolina Farmin’ family to enjoy. Peter comes to Carolina Farmin’ with an extensive background in food, including training in classical French cuisine. He’s opened restaurants in Raleigh and Snead’s Ferry and is now happy to call Wilmington home. His favorite thing at Carolina Farmin’? “The coffee,” he says. “I drink it every day.”

Alan Farmer

Position: Shift Manager  |  Responsible for: Shift operations and customer service.

A Wilmington native, Alan’s first priority is customer service. “I love being part of the most customer-friendly grocery store in town,” he says. He firmly believes Carolina Farmin’ carries the best local products, his favorite being the honey. He enjoys fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Michael Vecchia

Position: Bakery Manager  |  Responsible for: Baked goods, coffee bar and gelato shop.

Michael has the sweetest job at Carolina Farmin’ – managing the bakery, coffee bar and gelato shop. Part of what makes his job so satisfying is seeing the look on customers’ faces when they try a spoonful of gelato or a bite of their famous strawberry white chocolate cheesecake. “When I come to work, I feel like I’m surrounded by family,” he says. “We’re all working toward the same goal.”

Michael Swindal

Position: Floral and Gift Center Specialist  |  Responsible for: Flowers, plants, decor, cards and gift items.

With his extensive background in floral arrangement, Michael brings passion and an eye for design to his work. His years of experience have earned Michael the enviable reputation of being sought out by people around the area for his expertise.  He swears by the lilies from Sarah and Michael’s in Durham, which he says, “last at least 10 days and open up as big as dinner plates.”

Jennifer Rodriguez

Position: HR Coordinator / Front-End Manager  |  Responsible for: Customer service & employment.

Jennifer loves that her job allows her to multitask, working with both employees and customers. “Being a part of Carolina Farmin’ also means being part of a community,” she says. A southern girl at heart, she loves the market’s local collards and the way it embraces true southern hospitality.

Skip Laskody

Position: Chef, Kitchen Manager  |  Responsible for: Prepared foods, deli and cheeses

Skip will tell you how great it is to cook with local foods.  He says it’s always the healthier, great tasting choice.  A 30-year veteran of hotel and grocery kitchens, he’s has been honored with numerous awards, including 18 culinary gold medals.  Think you recognize Skip?  Maybe it’s from his Cape Fear Cookery cookbook or his past cooking segments on WECT’s Carolina in the Morning!

Bobby Harris

Position: Director of Operations for Central Market  |  Responsible for: Food distribution services to area chefs, restaurateurs and food purveyors

Bobby sees himself and Central Market as pioneers by bringing to market a new version of an “old school” trade.  Every day he works with local chefs, restauranteurs and food purveyors to create farm to table relationships.  What’s the best part of his job?  “It’s meeting the local chefs — sharing their excitement for local Carolina foods and developing new ideas for each  individual business.”  Outside of work, Bobby relaxes with surfing, music, motorcycles and his young son, Benji.