Carrot Country

Category: Marketing

  • Are You a Farmer or Rancher?

    Are You a Farmer or Rancher?

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and members of the Cooperative Extension System want your input on the financial needs and priorities of farm and ranch families.

    Better understanding the experiences of farm and ranch families will help both the CFPB and Cooperative Extension work on behalf of consumers in farming and ranching communities.

    About the CFPB and Cooperative Extension:
    The CFPB is a federal agency dedicated to making sure people are treated fairly by banks, lenders, and other financial institutions. Learn more at the CFPB website.

    Two listening sessions are available. Choose the one that works best for you:


    Wednesday, August 9, 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern / 5:30-7:30 pm Central / 3:30-5:00 pm Pacific.

    This session is timed to work well for people in the Eastern and Central time zones, but participants from any time zone may join. This session will use a virtual whiteboard technology, so a computer and internet access are required.

    Thursday, August 10, 8:30-10:00 pm Eastern / 6:30-8:00 pm Mountain / 5:30- 7:00 pm Pacific.

    This session is timed to work well for people in the Mountain and Pacific time zones, but participants from any time zone may join. This session will be on Zoom and participants will be able to join by phone. Internet access is not required.

    Click here to Register today

    No preparation is needed. You will be asked to share your observations and experiences related to accessing credit and other financial services. Space is limited, so registrants will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for registration is Thursday, July 13th.

    After you register, you will receive an email confirmation with additional information about the event.

  • AMS Awards Carrot Contract

    AMS Awards Carrot Contract

    Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has awarded a contract for frozen diced carrots to Inn Foods, based in Watsonville, Calif.

    The contract total is $311,691.60. Product will be shipped from plants in Hart, Mich., Walkerville, Mich., Quincy, Wash. and Brockport, N.Y.

    SEE FULL AWARD

  • Best Cities for Vegetarians

    Best Cities for Vegetarians

    It’s always good to know where the best markets are for your products. A new list compiled by apartmentguide.com ranks the top 50 cities for veggie-eaters.

    Cities were ranked based on a weighted scoring system using the number of vegan restaurants and produce markets per 100,000 residents, and the number of vegan restaurants and produce markets per square mile. All features were given equal weight.

    San Francisco, Calif. is ranked on top and Madison, Wisc. brings up the rear.

    SEE FULL LIST

  • New Technology Makes Organic Exporting Easier

    New Technology Makes Organic Exporting Easier

    USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is working to make it a little easier for certifiers and businesses to export organic products to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Mexico.

    The organic industry may now utilize the USDA Electronic Trade Document Exchange System (eTDE) to submit and approve organic export certificates and send them to participating foreign trade partners. Foreign trade partners can electronically review information about shipments leaving the U.S., validate printed export certificates, and pull electronic certificates directly into their own systems.

    Click to learn more about the eTDE organic option.

  • The Original Carrot Color: Orange or Purple?

    The Original Carrot Color: Orange or Purple?

    By Jaimee Bruce

    Most people would associate carrots with the color orange and would never dream of seeing this root vegetable in another color. What most people don’t know is that the first cultivated carrots were purple or yellow.

    Around one thousand years ago, carrots spread to the eastern Mediterranean after being grown and domesticated in Afghanistan. Purple carrots, along with yellow, red, and white ones, were prevalent in the Middle East and other parts of Asia. Around the 1500s, orange carrots were recorded in Italy, Spain, and Germany.

    “In my wildest dreams I didn’t think that this would come back as a color for consumers,” said Philipp Simon in an article in Popular Science. Simon, a carrot geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been working with his team for 35 years, bringing in purple carrots from Syria to test if purple carrots contained genes that could aid in making orange carrots resistant to diseases and pests.

    Simon and his team have discovered that a number of purple carrot varieties weren’t susceptible to a type of soil nematode that attacks plant roots. Since orange carrots don’t have the same kind of resistance to pests, the USDA has been crossing the resistant purple carrots to the orange ones that more recognizable for more than a decade.

    “The major purpose of my project is to prepare genetic stocks that carrot breeders will need in the future,” shared Simon. “I have no crystal ball, but we talk to growers and consumers. We look at carrots and say, ‘Might this be interesting?’”

    The Organic Seed Alliance certainly found some of those carrots breeds interesting and has helped to introduce some of the new varieties to small-scale growers. The surprising interest in the unusually colored carrots, as well as the higher prices they fetched, had even larger growers marketing more purple carrots.

    Since purple carrots derive their color from anthocyanin, Simon shared that this pigment contains antioxidants that could prevent cell damage and reduce the risk of certain diseases. One study even published that, compared with orange carrots, purple carrots have twice the amount of alpha and beta carotene that the body converts into vitamin A.

    “There all kinds of colors out there that are really pretty interesting,” said Simon. “We’re looking at more combinations.”

    Originally posted at Nature World News

  • Largest Greek Salad: Petros Lambrinidis breaks Guinness World Records record

    Largest Greek Salad: Petros Lambrinidis breaks Guinness World Records record

    MOSCOW, Russia — Petros Lambrinidis, a Greek chef from Crete, managed to create a gigantic 20-tonne salad with the help of over 1,000 volunteers in Moscow’s Red Square, thus setting the new world record for the Largest Greek Salad (Largest Salad), according to the World Record Academy.

     The Guinness World Records world record for the largest fruit salad weighed 8,690 kg (19,158 lb 2.72 oz) and was achieved by Spar Österreichische Warenhandels-AG (Austria) in Vienna, Austria, on 27 June 2014.

    Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the longest salad bar; it measures 209.742 m (688 ft 1.56 in) in length and was achieved by Jensen Jewelers (USA) at the Saladbowl Bash in Hudsonville, Michigan, USA, on 27 July 2013. The salad weighed 1,077.99 kg (2,376.56 lb) and contained lettuce, carrot, onion, radish, cabbage, zucchini, celery, cucumber and peppers as well as a selection of dressings.

    Petros Lambrinidis was honoured by the Municipality of Melvezi. The Mayor of Matlezi, Kostas Mamoulakis expressed his pride over the chef’s achievement and underlined his contribution to the promotion of the Greek cuisine.

    ‘I would like to personally congratulate him and wish him health and to continue his inspired creative endeavours’, said Mamoulakis.

    Originally posted at World Record Academy

  • Carrot Park opens in Ohakune

    Carrot Park opens in Ohakune

    Two years in the making, the park sees Ohakune’s famous giant carrot joined by a cartoon carrot, as well as a swede, potato, and Brussels sprout. A parsnip will be added later.

    There’s a bike track in the park, a playground, and a Mazda carrot car carved out of a log of old-man pine, while information boards about vegetables, Chinese growers and forestry are a homage to the district’s history.

    As well as the cartoon veges, which have been fashioned out of high-density polystyrene and then fibreglassed by sculptor Mike Walsh, there’s a heritage path with bricks naming the many growers who have been part of the Ohakune community over the years.

    Visit Ruapehu’s marketing manager Jo Kennedy said there had been a “fantastic turnout” at the opening, with people of all ages enjoying the fun.

    “We had hundreds of people there, a good mixture of locals and visitors. The sun came out and even the mountain [Ruapheu] peaked out from the clouds for a while.

    “It was a really positive event,” Ms Kennedy said.

    She said the formalities took about an hour, as each new item in the park was unveiled separately.

    “The great thing was that a lot of people stayed on afterwards, just to chat and enjoy the park.”

    Originally published at The Country
  • 24 Amazing Benefits Of Carrots For Skin And Health

    24 Amazing Benefits Of Carrots For Skin And Health

    Few Facts About Carrots:

    Carrots are basically root vegetables belonging to the Apeaceae or Umbelliferrous family, which also includes parsley, parsnip, dill, cumin, etc. A carrot plant has green leaves and a long, slender, orange root that is edible. Baby carrots are tender but they also have less flavor because they are yet to mature.

    These vegetables are believed to have originated about 5000 years ago. In fact, you will be surprised to know that carrots used to be red, black, yellow, white, and mostly purple in colour, but not orange. They were first cultivated in Afghanistan, and had purple exteriors with yellow flesh. Bright orange carrots were developed by the Dutch in the middle ages and today, they are the most common ones.

    Besides their delicious flavor, carrots contain high amounts of beta-carotene and other health-benefitting compounds such as vitamin A, minerals and antioxidants. Carrots offer several health benefits and are particularly beneficial for organs like the eyes, skin, digestive system and teeth. No doubt, they are a favorite of Bugs Bunny and account for his swiftness, energy and intelligence.

    Carrots are often used in juice therapy for the treatment of certain diseases. In fact, carrots were initially grown as medicine for treating a variety of ailments. This vegetable can be eaten both in its raw and cooked forms. It serves as a fat substitute when used as a thickener in soups, sauces, casseroles and quick breads. A steaming bowl of carrot soup is a great way to boost your nutrition in winter.

    This crunchy power food is low in calories and contains no fat. However, it can provide you with high doses of vitamin A and other antioxidants. Here are the benefits of eating carrot – for skin, hair and health.

    Skin Benefits Of Carrots:

    The benefits of carrot for the skin are due to the abundant amounts of Vitamin A and other antioxidants, which protect against various skin problems and help in maintaining skin health.

    The benefits of eating carrots for the skin are as follows:

    1. Carrots For Glowing Skin:

    The consumption of carrots keeps your skin healthy and vibrant as they are loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants. Carrots can also be used to prepare an inexpensive and convenient face mask. All you need to do is to mix grated carrot with some honey and apply it as a face mask to get glowing skin.

    2. Treatment Of Blemishes/Scars:

    Drinking carrot juice is effective in getting rid of blemishes and scars. You can also apply carrot pulp on your skin to clear the blemishes.

    3. Anti-Ageing Benefits:

    Carrots also contain Vitamin C that aids the collagen production in the body. Collagen is a type of protein that is vital for the maintenance of the skin elasticity. It helps prevent wrinkles and locks the process of aging. Vitamin A, being an antioxidant, also attacks the free radicals to prevent the signs of aging like wrinkles, pigmentation and an uneven skin tone.

    Benefits Of Carrots pin_image_share

    Image: shutterstock

    4. Sun Protection:

    Beta-carotene, found in carrots, is a skin-friendly nutrient that is converted to vitamin A inside the body. It helps in repairing the skin tissues and provides protection against the sun’s harsh rays. The antioxidants and carotenoids protect and condition the skin to increase its immunity against the sun and heal sunburns. In fact, the consumption of carrot juice in summer acts as a natural sun block.

    [ Read: DIY Carrot And Banana Hair Mask ]

    5. Suitable For Dry Skin:

    The deficiency of potassium can lead to a dry skin. Carrots are rich in potassium. Hence, drinking carrot juice can prevent this problem and keep your skin hydrated.

    6. Treatment of Skin Ailments:

    Carrots are effective in the prevention and cure of various skin ailments. The antioxidants in this vegetable can treat skin conditions like pimples and acne, rashes, dermatitis and other skin problems caused due to Vitamin A deficiency. However, keep in mind not to consume carrots in excess as they can cause your skin to temporarily turn yellowish-orange in color.

    7. Healing Qualities:

    Carrots possess great healing qualities. Raw or grated carrots can be applied to wounds, cuts, and inflammation for quick healing. Their anti-inflammatory properties help to revitalize and tone the skin.

    Carrot Facial Masks For Skin:

    Wondering about how to use a carrot on the face? Here are a few carrot facial masks for you to check out.

    8. Carrot Moisturizing Facial Mask:

    Things you will need:

    • 2 teaspoons of grated carrot
    • A teaspoon of honey
    • A teaspoon of milk cream
    • Few drops of olive oil

    Preparation And Usage:

    1. Grind the grated carrots to a smooth paste. Collect this carrot paste in a small bowl and add all the remaining ingredients to it.
    2. Blend well with a spoon and your quick, homemade, carrot moisturizing facial mask is all ready to use.
    3. Cleanse your face with a gentle facial cleanser and apply this carrot mask evenly over your skin.
    4. Let it sit on your face for 10-15 minutes. Splash cold water and wash away after that.
    5. Pat dry to see your soft, glowing and, of course, moisturized skin.

    9. Carrot Calming Facial Spray:

    How does our facial skin feel after getting exposed to sunlight and dust? Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable and tanned? Give your skin a carrot spray to get that soothing effect.

    1. Extract the juice from fresh carrots and mix this carrot juice with 2 parts of rose water.
    2. Store this liquid in an old, cleaned spray bottle and, that’s it!
    3. Your homemade, calming, carrot facial spray is ready for usage.

    You can use this spray all over your body to reduce heat, tan and sun burns!

    Hair Benefits Of Carrots:

    Since ages, carrots have been known to promote hair growth and add thickness to the hair. Being loaded with vitamin A, carrots offer the following benefits for your hair.

    10. Treatment Of Hair Loss:

    Carrots are great for combating hair loss as they provide your hair with vital vitamins, making them stronger, thicker and shinier. Drinking carrot juice makes your hair healthy. This is the best benefit of carrots for the hair.

    11. Stimulates Hair Growth:

    Consuming 3 to 4 ounces of carrot juice daily stimulates the hair growth and thickens your hair. Vitamin C and Vitamin E in carrots improve the circulation in the scalp, thus promoting hair growth and prevent premature graying of hair.

    [ Read: Carrots For Hair Growth ]

    Health Benefits Of Carrots:

    The health benefits of carrots are surplus. Let’s have a look at those amazing benefits:

    12. Eye Care:

    Carrots are excellent for the eyes, thanks to the presence of the abundant amounts of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. This vitamin is converted in the retina to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision. Beta-carotene improves the night vision and protects against eye problems like glaucoma, macular degeneration and senile cataracts. It is also helpful in treating night blindness. A study has proved that the consumption of beta-carotene reduces the risk of macular degeneration by 40%.

    13. Cardiovascular Benefits:

    Carrots contain a variety of antioxidants and polyacetylenes which, together, provide a protective shield to the heart. Studies have shown that the consumption of foods high in carotenoids lowers the risk of heart disease. Besides being extremely rich in beta-carotene, carrots also contain alpha-carotene and lutein. The regular consumption of carrots protects your heart from oxidative damage, plaque formation and bad cholesterol elevation. This is because they contain soluble fibers which bind with bile acids.

    14. Prevents Cancer:

    Studies have shown that the consumption of carrots can reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. This is because carrots are rich in the poly-acetylene antioxidant, falcarinol, which fights against cancers by destroying the pre-cancerous cells in the tumors. In this way, carrots possess anti-carcinogenic properties that inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the colon and support the health of the lower digestive tract. This is one of the best health benefits of carrots.

    15. Boosts The Immune System:

    Carrots contain a variety of nutrients and antioxidants along with vitamin C, and these will boost your immune system. The regular consumption of carrots creates a protective shield for our body.

    16. Dental Health:

    Carrots are beneficial for your teeth and mouth as they scrape off plaque and food particles. Carrots stimulate the gums and facilitate the formation of a lot of saliva. Saliva is alkaline in nature and balances the acid-forming and cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals present in carrots kill the harmful germs in the mouth and prevent tooth decay.

    17. Cleanses The Body:

    As stated earlier, carrots contain abundant amounts of Vitamin A which assists the liver in flushing out toxins from the body. It reduces the accumulation of bile and fat in the liver. The soluble fiber, on the other hand, cleanses the colon by facilitating waste elimination.

    18. Prevents Ageing:

    The high level of beta carotene in the carrots acts as an antioxidant to prevent and reverse the cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. Thus, it helps in slowing down the aging of cells.

    [ Read: Carrot Juice Is Extremely Beneficial For Women ]

    19. Beneficial During Menstruation And The Post-Menopausal Phase:

    Carrot juice is extremely beneficial for women. This is because the phytoestrogen in carrots helps relieve menstrual pain and regularizes bleeding in those having heavy menstrual flow. It is also beneficial for post-menopausal women as it helps to get rid of hot flushes and stabilizes other menopausal symptoms.

    20. Helpful During Pregnancy:

    Carrots are particularly helpful during pregnancy as they aid in the proper development of the fetus and reduce the risk of fetal infections and miscarriage. The regular consumption of carrots is known to help in the production of breast milk and improve its quality.

    21. Prevents Stroke:

    According to a research conducted at Harvard University, people who consumed more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer from strokes in comparison to those who ate only one carrot a month, or less.

    22. Source Of Calcium:

    Very few of us are aware of the fact that carrots contain calcium that is vital for the growth and development of bones in children and women.

    [ Read: Skincare Recipes with Carrot ]

    23. Digestive Health:

    Carrots are a good source of fiber that helps in regularizing the bowel movements and aids digestion. It is also beneficial in conditions like constipation and acid reflux. Besides, this fiber aids in weight loss and in avoiding sugar hikes in the blood.

    24. General Benefits:

    Carrots are high in carotenoids that regulate blood sugar. They also contain alkaline elements which purify and revitalize the blood as well as balance the acid-alkaline ratio in the body. The high potassium content in carrots helps in balancing the high levels of sodium associated with hypertension and controls the blood pressure.

    Nutritional Value Of Carrots:

    Carrots are a nutritious addition to your diet as they are one of the richest sources of beta carotene. They also have an amazing combination of phytonutrients comprising of other carotenoids such as alpha-carotene and lutein, hydroxycinnamon acids, anthocyanins and poly-acetylenes like falcarinol and falcarindiol. They are also important sources of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber and potassium. They also contain vitamin B6, niacin, folate, vitamin E, enzyme-supporting manganese and molybdenum, and energy-providing vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and phosphorus. The nutritional value of carrots is explained below. See the table for in-depth analysis of nutrients:

    Carrots (Daucus carota), Fresh, raw
    Nutrition value per 100 g.Total-ORAC value 666 umol TE/100 g.
    (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
    Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA
    Energy 41 Kcal 2%
    Carbohydrates 9.58 g 7%
    Protein 0.93 g 1.5%
    Total Fat 0.24 g 1%
    Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
    Dietary Fiber 2.8 g 7%
    Vitamins
    Folates 19 µg 5%
    Niacin 0.983 mg 6%
    Pantothenic acid 0.273 mg 5.5%
    Pyridoxine 0.138 mg 10%
    Riboflavin 0.058 mg 4%
    Thiamin 0.066 mg 6%
    Vitamin A 16706 IU 557%
    Vitamin C 5.9 mg 10%
    Vitamin K 13.2 µg 11%
    Electrolytes
    Sodium 69 mg 4.5%
    Potassium 320 mg 6.5%
    Minerals
    Calcium 33 mg 3%
    Copper 0.045 mg 5%
    Iron 0.30 mg 4%
    Magnesium 12 mg 3%
    Manganese 0.143 mg 6%
    Phosphorus 35 mg 5%
    Selenium 0.1 µg <1%
    Zinc 0.24 mg 2%
    Phyto-nutrients
    Carotene-α 3427 µg —
    Carotene-ß 8285 µg —
    Crypto-xanthin-ß 0 µg —
    Lutein-zeaxanthin 256 µg —

     

    • Calories And fat: Carrots are low in calories with a 100 gram serving providing just 41 calories. They contain negligible amount of fat and absolutely no cholesterol.
    • Fiber: Carrots are a good source of dietary fiber. A cup of chopped carrots provides about 3.6 grams of dietary fiber. The recommended daily allowance of fiber is 21 to 25 grams for women and 30 to 38 grams for men. Fiber helps in keeping your intestines and arteries clear and clean, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
    • Beta Carotene And Vitamin A: Carrots are renowned for their high content of beta carotene. They are a top source of vitamin A with 1 cup serving of chopped carrots providing 1069 micrograms of this vitamin.
    • Vitamin A is vital for healthy eyes, skin, teeth and bones. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A is 700 micrograms and 900 micrograms for women and men respectively.
    • Vitamin K: A cup of chopped carrots provides 16.9 micrograms of vitamin K, which is equivalent to 20% of the RDA of 75 to 90 micrograms. This vitamin plays a crucial role in clotting your blood as well as maintaining the bone health, thus reducing the risk of fractures, breaks and osteoporosis.
    • Vitamin C: Fresh carrots are also a good source of Vitamin C, with a 100 gram serving providing about 9% RDA of this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that helps in maintaining healthy connective tissue, teeth and gums.
    • Antioxidants: Carrots contain a variety of antioxidants. They are particularly rich in the poly-acetylene antioxidant, falcarinol. This antioxidant possesses anti-carcinogenic properties as it destroys the pre-cancerous cells in the tumors.
    • B-Vitamins: Carrots are especially rich in the B-complex group of vitamins such as folic acid, Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, pantothenic acid, etc. that act as co-factors of enzymes.
    • Minerals: Carrots also contain healthy amounts of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus.

    Now that you know the health, beauty and hair benefits of carrots, you are going to definitely include in your diet routine, won’t you? Does your diet include carrots every day? Or it needs to be introduced? Share your thoughts with us through comments.

    Originally posted at: StyleCraze

  • Baby carrots are not baby carrots

    Baby carrots are not baby carrots

    By Roberto A. Ferdman

    Ten years ago, NPR opened a radio news segment with a few words about a man few knew. Mike Yurosek, a carrot farmer from California, had passed away earlier that year. The homage was short —it lasted no more than 30 seconds — but for many of those listening, it must have been eye-opening.

    “He actually invented these things,” Stephen Miller, then an obituary writer with the New York Sun said, holding a bag of baby carrots. “Not many people know that baby carrots don’t grow this way.”

    There are small carrots, which uppity restaurants serve as appetizers or alongside entrees, that sprout from the ground. But those look like miniature versions of the much larger vegetable. The smooth, snack-sized tubes that have come to define carrot consumption in the United States are something different. They’re milled, sculpted from the rough, soiled, mangled things we call carrots, and they serve as an example, though perhaps not a terribly grave one, of how disconnected we have all become from the production of our food.

    “The majority of consumers have no clue what they’re eating or how it’s produced,” said David Just, a professor of behavioral economics at Cornell who studies consumer food choices. “There are so many people who honestly believe there are baby carrot farmers out there who grow these baby carrots that pop out of the ground and are perfectly convenient and smooth.”

    It’s hard to overstate the ingenuity of the baby carrot, one of the simplest and yet most influential innovations in vegetable history. The little carrot sculptures (or baby cut carrots, as they’re sometimes called to clarify) not only revived a once-struggling carrot industry, but they also helped both curb waste on the farm and sell the Vitamin A-filled vegetables at the supermarkets.

    The birth of the baby carrot

    The baby carrot, like so many inventions before it, was birthed by necessity.

    In the early 1980s, the carrot business was stagnant and wasteful. Growing seasons were long, and more than half of what farmers grew was ugly and unfit for grocery shelves. But in 1986, Yurosek, itching for a way to make use of all the misshapen carrots, tried something new. Instead of tossing them out, he carved them into something more palatable.

    At first, Yurosek used a potato peeler, which didn’t quite work because the process was too laborious. But then he bought an industrial green-bean cutter. The machine cut the carrots into uniform 2-inch pieces, the standard baby carrot size that persists today.

    When Mike Yurosek & Sons, Yurosek’s now-defunct California company, delivered his next batch to Vons, a local grocery chain, he included a bag of the new creation. He suspected he was on to something but hardly anticipated such an enthusiastic response.

    “I said, ‘I’m sending you some carrots to see what you think,’ ” Yurosek recounted in a 2004 interview with USA Today. “Next day they called and said, ‘We only want those.’ ”

    The carrot savior

    Vons wasn’t the only one impressed. Grocers, distributors, carrot buyers, and, most importantly, some of Yurosek’s most formidable competition took notice. In the years that followed, baby carrots ballooned into big business, nudging the biggest carrot producers in the country to join in and feed the frenzy.

    “When we realized this wasn’t a fad, this was real, everybody jumped on the bandwagon,” Tim McCorkle, director of sales for Bolthouse Farms, one of the nation’s leading carrot producers, recalled in a 1998 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. “This idea inverted the whole carrot-growing business.”

    It also helped lift the industry out of a rut. In 1987, the year after Yurosek’s discovery, carrot consumption jumped by almost 30 percent, according to data from the USDA. By 1997, the average American was eating roughly 14 pounds of carrots per year, 117 percent more than a decade earlier. The baby carrot doubled carrot consumption.

    Today, baby carrots dominate the carrot industry. The packaged orange snacks are now responsible for almost 70 percent of all carrot sales.

    A 2007 report by the USDA detailed many ways in which baby carrots have morphed the entire carrot landscape in the United States.

    The development and rapid consumer acceptance of packaged fresh-cut carrot products during the 1990s has helped the carrot industry evolve from a supplier of low-value bulk products to marketer of relatively upscale value added products … fresh-cut carrot products have been the fastest growing segment of the carrot industry since the early 1990s. Within the $1.3 billion fresh-cut vegetable category, carrots account for the largest share (about half) of supermarket sales, followed distantly by potatoes, celery, and others.

    A too perfect snack

    Of all the reasons for the rise of America’s favorite carrot, there is likely nothing that has propelled baby carrots quite like their convenience. The quality was important to Americans in the 1980s, and it’s even more precious now.

    As people have found themselves with less time to sit down at restaurants or even cook at home, convenience has guided all sorts of decisions about food, especially when there is an option that requires little more than opening a packet.

    “Baby carrots have transformed the way people think about carrots,” said Just, the behavioral food economist. “The fact that you don’t have to peel them, that it involves so little prep, is key.”

    “Baby carrots are also small enough to fit in your mouth,” he added. “They’re bite-sized and ready to be eaten. They’re easy.”

    The fuzziness about the baby carrot’s origins may have also helped their success.

    Recent marketing efforts to further boost their popularity have positioned them as an alternative to junk food, rather than a different way to eat carrots. The packaging was changed to mirror that used for potato chips. “Eat ’Em Like Junk Food,” the 2010 TV, print, and digital ads suggested, likening the vegetable vehicle to Doritos and other snack foods.

    The campaign was a hit, boosting sales by 13 percent, succeeding, at least in part, by further disassociating baby carrots from their parent.

    “This is a common theme now,” said Just. “We are more and more disconnected from what we eat.”

    The truth is that it probably doesn’t matter all too much whether someone understands that the smooth little 2-inch carrot cut-outs they’re devouring didn’t grow in the ground. Just maintains that knowing this probably wouldn’t change anyone’s consumption patterns, save perhaps for a small group of hardcore naturalists, since the processing involved is comparatively minimal.

    But that doesn’t forgive the disconnect. Baby carrots, the ones that don’t grow in the ground, have done more than simply boost the sales of carrot producers around the country—they have turned the carrot industry into a much more efficient and much less wasteful endeavor.

    At a time when most ugly vegetables go to waste in the United States, ugly carrots are carved and sold at a premium. What’s more, moving the peeling process to the factory has allowed the carrot industry to make use of the scraps that used to end up in people’s trash bins.

    “It’s something pretty amazing about baby carrots that I’m sure people don’t appreciate,” Just lamented. “The same people probably think selecting only for regular carrots is more environmentally friendly.”

     

    Originally posted at the The Washington Post

  • How Colby Carrot got more kids to choose salad

    How Colby Carrot got more kids to choose salad

    Kids may turn their noses up at some vegetables, but when they see superhero characters such as Brian Broccoli and Colby Carrot extolling the virtues of veggies, they may be more eager to load up their salad plates.

    Marketing experts found that to be the case when they did a six-week field experiment in 10 U.S. elementary schools.

    Marketing to children is controversial in public health circles since the flashy ads and celebrity promotions usually sell unhealthy food and drinks.

    In the experiment, researchers harnessed marketing strategies to sway children towards salad. They randomly assigned participating classes to receive:

    A vinyl banner displaying vegetable characters that was fastened around the base of the salad bar in the school cafeteria.
    Short television clips with nutrition education messages delivered by the same vegetable character superheros, called Super Sprowtz.
    A combination of the vinyl banner and television segments.
    The animated vegetable characters included Colby Carrot, a joker with super sight, Zach Zucchini, a fast-swimming surfer dude, Suzy Sweetpea, a friendly eager beaver and super strong Brian Broccoli as captain.

    Kids and vegetables
    Arjun Birak enjoys broccoli after watching animated veggie characters. (CBC)

    In schools with the vinyl banners, nearly 91 per cent more students took veggies, an increase from 12.6 per cent to 24 per cent, Andrew Hanks, an assistant professor of consumer sciences at Ohio State University, and his team reported in the journal Pediatrics.

    Fruits and vegetables: 6 ways to save money on produce
    Sesame Street, heart doctor aim to boost kids’ health
    When the kids also saw the videos, the number of kids grabbing greens jumped up 239 per cent, from 10.2 per cent to 34.6 per cent, the researchers said.

    Keep it simple pays off

    “This was fairly innovative in that something of this nature hadn’t been done in the past,” Hanks said in an interview.

    “If we can keep it as simple and least costly as possible then we have a win. It’s a big impact and we can really move the needle in terms of getting people to take more vegetables.”

    The simple banner was the more persuasive element, perhaps because it was consistently part of the salad bar, a prime spot where students were making their food choices, the researchers said. The location of TV screens was limited by the location of electrical outlets and wall space.

    Alan Middleton, an assistant professor of marketing at the Schulich School of Business at Toronto’s York University who has worked for major advertising firms, watched the videos with a group of children and friends of CBC journalists and gauged their reactions.

    “Make it fun, make it enjoyable,” said Middleton. “There is an opportunity of getting them turned on to that as much as they are to the other things.”

    Jora Birak, 10, snacked on veggie platters as he watched the videos. “The advertising makes it look better but sometimes it is not,” he said.

    Preparing the veggies in such an easy to eat form also helps, Middleton said.

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    Whether the marketing tactic will work after the novelty wears off is an open question.

    Junk food remains cheap and pumped with preservatives. For families struggling to make ends meet, Middleton said paying more for vegetables will continue to be a barrier as food costs are projected to increase in the next decade.

    The challenges come as about one in three children in Canada is overweight or obese.

    In an email to CBC News, Health Minister Jane Philpott’s office said evidence has shown marketing unhealthy products influences child obesity and the federal government will introduce new restrictions on its commercial marketing to support families to make better food choices.

    SOURCE: CBC News