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{{Short description|Carrot sold at a smaller size before reaching maturity}} |
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{{refimprove|article|date=August 2009}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}} |
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A '''baby carrot''' (true baby carrot) is a [[carrot]] harvested before reaching maturity and sold at that smaller size. |
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A '''baby-cut carrot''', or '''mini-carrot''' (manufactured baby carrot), is a small piece cut from a larger carrot, peeled and shaped into a uniform size. Confusion occurs when baby-cut carrots are mislabeled as "baby carrots".<ref name="carrotmuseum">{{cite web |
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|title=The True Story of Baby Carrots - Origin and Evolution |url=http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/babycarrot.html |
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A '''baby carrot''' is an immature [[carrot]]; a ''baby cut'' carrot, known as a "baby carrot", is a mature carrot that has been cut and peeled in the "baby-cut" style. |
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|url-status=dead |
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|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220324154219/http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/babycarrot.html |
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|archive-date= March 24, 2022 |
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|website=World Carrot Museum}}</ref> |
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==Baby |
== Baby carrots == |
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[[File:Baby Carrots 2.jpg|thumb|Baby carrots]] |
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The immature roots of the carrot plant are sometimes harvested simply as the result of crop [[thinning]], but are also grown to this size as a specialty crop. |
The immature roots of the carrot plant are sometimes harvested simply as the result of crop [[thinning]], but are also grown to this size as a specialty crop. Certain [[cultivar]]s of carrots have been bred to be used at the "baby" stage. One such cultivar is 'Amsterdam Forcing'. This process was developed at Beechnut Farms, bought by Zellwin Farms.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} These farms originally developed food for [[World War II]], but wanted to sell food for civilians. A team of two led the research. According to [[Dole Food Company|Dole]], baby carrots are sweeter and more tender than full-grown carrots.<ref name="Dole 1">{{cite web | url=http://www.dole.eu/Products/PackagedSalads/BabyCarrots/tabid/217/Default.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521131334/http://www.dole.eu/Products/PackagedSalads/BabyCarrots/tabid/217/Default.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 21, 2009 | title=Baby Carrots | publisher=Dole Europe| accessdate=March 21, 2009}}</ref> |
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== |
== Baby-cut carrots == |
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Taking fully grown carrots and cutting them to make them smaller was the idea of [[California]] farmer [[Mike Yurosek]].<ref name = "USAToday1" /> Yurosek was unhappy at having to discard carrots because of slight rotting or imperfections, and looked for a way to reclaim what would otherwise be a waste product. He was able to acquire an industrial green bean cutter, which cut his carrots into two lengths, and by placing these lengths into a potato peeler, he created the original baby carrot, branded "Bunny-Luv". |
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Taking fully grown carrots and cutting them to a smaller size for sale was an innovation made by [[California]] carrot farmer [[Mike Yurosek]] in 1986 to reduce [[food waste]].<ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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In 2006, nearly three-quarters of the fresh baby-cut carrots produced in the [[United States]] came from [[Bakersfield, California]].<ref name |
In 2006, nearly three-quarters of the fresh baby-cut carrots produced in the [[United States]] came from [[Bakersfield, California]].<ref name="USA Today 1">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-08-11-baby-carrot_x.htm |title=Digging the baby carrot |last=Weise |first=Elizabeth |date=August 11, 2004 |work=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=March 20, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221092838/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-08-11-baby-carrot_x.htm |archivedate=December 21, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> [[Bolthouse Farms]] and [[Grimmway Farms]] are the world's two largest growers, processors, and shippers of baby-cut carrots.<ref>{{cite news|last=McGray|first=Douglas|title=How Carrots Became The New Junk Food|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1739774/how-carrots-became-new-junk-food|newspaper=Fast Company|date=March 22, 2011}}</ref> |
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=== Production === |
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To make baby-cut carrots, large carrots are put into a machine and cut into {{convert|2|in|spell=in|adj=on}} sections, then abraded (scraped) down to size, their ends rounded by the same process. |
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# In the field, two-story carrot harvesters use long metal prongs to open up the soil, while rubber belts grab the green tops and pull. The carrots ride up the belts to the top of the picker, where an automated cutter snips off the greens.<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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| ⚫ | In September 2010 a marketing initiative was launched by a group of nearly 50 carrot producers led by Bolthouse Farms (calling themselves "A Bunch of Carrot Farmers") sought to promote baby-cut carrots as an alternative to |
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# They are trucked to the processing plant, where they are put in icy water to bring their temperature down to {{convert|3|C}} to inhibit spoiling.<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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# They are sorted by thickness. Thin carrots continue on the processing line; the others will be used as whole carrots, juice, or cattle feed. An inspector looks for rocks, debris or malformed carrots that slip through.<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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# The carrots are shaped into {{convert|2|in|adj=on|spell=in}} pieces by automated cutters. An optical sorter discards any piece that has green on it.<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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# The pieces are pumped through pipes to the peeling tanks. The peelers rotate, scraping the skin off the carrots. There are two stages: an initial rough peel and then a final "polishing."<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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# To reduce microbial contamination, baby-cut carrots may be treated with small amounts of [[chlorine]].<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="Snopes carrot">{{cite web|last=Mikkelson|first=Barbara|title=Carrot and Shtick|url=http://www.snopes.com/food/tainted/carrots.asp|website=[[Snopes]] |date=March 11, 2008 |accessdate=November 2, 2013}}</ref> Those that are so treated will be subsequently rinsed with potable water to remove the excess chlorine before being packaged.<ref name="Snopes carrot" /> According to the [[Canadian Food Inspection Agency]], the use of chlorine as an antimicrobial treatment (similar to the chlorination of drinking water) is a current accepted practice in the processing for all fresh-cut ready-to-eat vegetables.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/frefra/safsal/minproe.shtml#s15|title=Code of Practice for Minimally Processed Ready-to-Eat Fruit and Vegetables|date=October 21, 2014|publisher=Canadian Food Inspection Agency}}</ref> |
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# The carrots are weighed and bagged by an automated scale and packager, then placed in cold storage until they are shipped.<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="USA Today 1" /> |
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The white blush sometimes visible on the surface of baby-cut carrots is caused by dehydration of the cut surface. Baby-cut carrots are more prone to develop this because their entire surface area is a cut surface. Low-temperature, high-humidity storage can minimize the white appearance.<ref name="carrotmuseum" /><ref name="Snopes carrot" /> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== |
=== Marketing === |
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| ⚫ | In September 2010, a marketing initiative was launched in the [[United States]] by a group of nearly 50 carrot producers led by [[Bolthouse Farms]] (calling themselves "A Bunch of Carrot Farmers") that sought to promote baby-cut carrots as an alternative to [[junk food]] — "Eat'em Like Junk Food". The campaign mimicked tactics typically employed by snack food marketers, including snack-food-like packaging; futuristic, sexual, and extreme sports-themed TV commercials; carrot vending machines in schools; and an [[iPhone]] game and website.<ref name="USA Today 2">{{cite news | last=Horvitz | first=Bruce | title=Baby Carrots Take On Junk Food with Hip Marketing Campaign | work=USA Today | url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-08-29-baby-carrots-marketing_N.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033452/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-08-29-baby-carrots-marketing_N.htm | archive-date=November 9, 2020 | url-status=dead | date=September 3, 2010}}</ref> |
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{{reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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* {{Wiktionary inline}} |
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*[https://carrotsonline.org/ The Baby Carrot Association of America] |
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{{Carrots}} |
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[[Category:1986 introductions]] |
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[[Category:Miniature versions of vegetables]] |
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[[Category:Root vegetables]] |
[[Category:Root vegetables]] |
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[[Category:Carrot]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:48, 8 November 2024
A baby carrot (true baby carrot) is a carrot harvested before reaching maturity and sold at that smaller size.
A baby-cut carrot, or mini-carrot (manufactured baby carrot), is a small piece cut from a larger carrot, peeled and shaped into a uniform size. Confusion occurs when baby-cut carrots are mislabeled as "baby carrots".[1]
Baby carrots
[edit]
The immature roots of the carrot plant are sometimes harvested simply as the result of crop thinning, but are also grown to this size as a specialty crop. Certain cultivars of carrots have been bred to be used at the "baby" stage. One such cultivar is 'Amsterdam Forcing'. This process was developed at Beechnut Farms, bought by Zellwin Farms.[citation needed] These farms originally developed food for World War II, but wanted to sell food for civilians. A team of two led the research. According to Dole, baby carrots are sweeter and more tender than full-grown carrots.[2]
Baby-cut carrots
[edit]
Taking fully grown carrots and cutting them to a smaller size for sale was an innovation made by California carrot farmer Mike Yurosek in 1986 to reduce food waste.[3]
In 2006, nearly three-quarters of the fresh baby-cut carrots produced in the United States came from Bakersfield, California.[3] Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms are the world's two largest growers, processors, and shippers of baby-cut carrots.[4]
Production
[edit]To make baby-cut carrots, large carrots are put into a machine and cut into two-inch (51 mm) sections, then abraded (scraped) down to size, their ends rounded by the same process.
- In the field, two-story carrot harvesters use long metal prongs to open up the soil, while rubber belts grab the green tops and pull. The carrots ride up the belts to the top of the picker, where an automated cutter snips off the greens.[1][3]
- They are trucked to the processing plant, where they are put in icy water to bring their temperature down to 3 °C (37 °F) to inhibit spoiling.[1][3]
- They are sorted by thickness. Thin carrots continue on the processing line; the others will be used as whole carrots, juice, or cattle feed. An inspector looks for rocks, debris or malformed carrots that slip through.[1][3]
- The carrots are shaped into two-inch (51 mm) pieces by automated cutters. An optical sorter discards any piece that has green on it.[1][3]
- The pieces are pumped through pipes to the peeling tanks. The peelers rotate, scraping the skin off the carrots. There are two stages: an initial rough peel and then a final "polishing."[1][3]
- To reduce microbial contamination, baby-cut carrots may be treated with small amounts of chlorine.[1][5] Those that are so treated will be subsequently rinsed with potable water to remove the excess chlorine before being packaged.[5] According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the use of chlorine as an antimicrobial treatment (similar to the chlorination of drinking water) is a current accepted practice in the processing for all fresh-cut ready-to-eat vegetables.[6]
- The carrots are weighed and bagged by an automated scale and packager, then placed in cold storage until they are shipped.[1][3]
The white blush sometimes visible on the surface of baby-cut carrots is caused by dehydration of the cut surface. Baby-cut carrots are more prone to develop this because their entire surface area is a cut surface. Low-temperature, high-humidity storage can minimize the white appearance.[1][5]
Marketing
[edit]In September 2010, a marketing initiative was launched in the United States by a group of nearly 50 carrot producers led by Bolthouse Farms (calling themselves "A Bunch of Carrot Farmers") that sought to promote baby-cut carrots as an alternative to junk food — "Eat'em Like Junk Food". The campaign mimicked tactics typically employed by snack food marketers, including snack-food-like packaging; futuristic, sexual, and extreme sports-themed TV commercials; carrot vending machines in schools; and an iPhone game and website.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The True Story of Baby Carrots - Origin and Evolution". World Carrot Museum. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Baby Carrots". Dole Europe. Archived from the original on May 21, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Weise, Elizabeth (August 11, 2004). "Digging the baby carrot". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ McGray, Douglas (March 22, 2011). "How Carrots Became The New Junk Food". Fast Company.
- ^ a b c Mikkelson, Barbara (March 11, 2008). "Carrot and Shtick". Snopes. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ^ "Code of Practice for Minimally Processed Ready-to-Eat Fruit and Vegetables". Canadian Food Inspection Agency. October 21, 2014.
- ^ Horvitz, Bruce (September 3, 2010). "Baby Carrots Take On Junk Food with Hip Marketing Campaign". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020.
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition of baby carrot at Wiktionary- The Baby Carrot Association of America
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