Carrots

WHAT ARE CARROTS?

Carrots are a taproot, a type of root which grows downwards into the soil and swells. Carrots come in many sizes and shapes: round, cylindrical, fat, very small, long or thin.

WHERE ARE CARROTS PRODUCED IN BC?

Carrots are commercially grown in the Okanagan Valley, Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.

HOW MANY CARROTS DO WE PRODUCE?

BC produces 8 million kilograms of carrots. This is about 3% of Canadian production.

HOW ARE CARROTS PRODUCED?

Fields are seeded with precision seeders from mid-March to the first of July. They take 6 to 21 days to germinate and 70 to 100 days to mature fully. Carrots are mechanically harvested by machines which pull carrots up by their tops, cuts the tops off and drops the carrots onto a conveyor leading to a truck.

WHAT DO CARROTS LOOK LIKE WHEN I USE IT?

Carrots are a common and popular vegetable to be eaten fresh. Baby carrots are particularly tender and juicy. They can also be canned or frozen. Carrot juice is a very nutritious drink especially high in beta-carotene. Carrots are used in baking in such delectables as carrot cake or muffins. Carrots are rich in minerals and vitamins.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CARROTS LEAVE THE FARM?

Carrots are harvested into large bulk trucks which take the product to on-farm packing operations. Upon arrival, carrots are unloaded onto a line where they are hydro-cooled, graded and packaged. They are held in cold storage or shipped to wholesale distributors as the market demands. Carrots can also be purchased with the tops on. These carrots are typically harvested at a younger stage and are usually hand harvested, then wrapped in bunches, resulting in "bunched carrots".

WHAT CHALLENGES DO CARROT PRODUCERS FACE?

Numerous root diseases affect carrots (black root rot, cavity spot), but proper cultural practices can keep them under control. Carrot rust fly are kept under control through an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.

Growers also face strong market competition from the western U.S and the Prairies.

WHO'S INVOLVED IN PRODUCING CARROTS?

• Producer
• Seed supplier
• Farm equipment supplier
• Agri-business suppliers
• Processing plant (co-op)
• Financiers

Interesting Fact About Carrots:

The carrot is a highly refined version of a common weed, Queen Anne's lace. Both plants originated in the Middle East.

Contacts and other resources:

 

BCMAL - Field Vegetable Information

Cloverdale Lettuce and Vegetable Co-op

InfoBasket: Your Portal to Agri-Food Information on the Internet