Baby carrot facts for kids
A baby carrot is a small carrot harvested when it's still young. It hasn't grown to its full size yet. Sometimes, people get these confused with "baby-cut" carrots.
A baby-cut carrot is actually a piece cut from a larger, full-grown carrot. It's then shaped to look like a small, whole carrot.
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Real Baby Carrots
Sometimes, farmers pick carrots early. This happens when they thin out their crops. But some carrots are grown specifically to be sold as "baby" carrots. These are a special kind of crop.
Some types of carrots are even bred to be small. One example is called 'Amsterdam Forcing'. This idea started at Beechnut Farms. They wanted to sell food to regular people after World War II. Companies like Dole plc say that these true baby carrots are sweeter. They are also more tender than big, full-grown carrots.
"Baby-Cut" Carrots
The idea of cutting big carrots into smaller pieces started in 1986. A carrot farmer named Mike Yurosek in California came up with this clever idea.
Today, most of the fresh "baby-cut" carrots in the United States come from Bakersfield, California. Two of the biggest companies that grow and prepare these carrots are Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms. They are leaders in the world for "baby-cut" carrots.
How Are Baby-Cut Carrots Made?
To make "baby-cut" carrots, large carrots go through a special process. They are cut into two-inch (51 mm) sections. Then, machines scrape them down to the right size. This process also makes their ends smooth and round.
Here's how they are made, step by step:
- In the field, big machines harvest the carrots. They use metal prongs to open the soil. Rubber belts grab the green tops and pull the carrots up. An automatic cutter then snips off the green tops.
- The carrots are driven to a processing plant. There, they are put into icy water. This cools them down to 3 °C (37 °F). This cold temperature helps stop them from spoiling.
- Next, the carrots are sorted by how thick they are. Thinner carrots continue on the line to become "baby-cut" carrots. The thicker ones are used for other things. These might be whole carrots, juice, or even food for farm animals. Inspectors also look for any rocks, dirt, or oddly shaped carrots.
- Machines then cut the carrots into two-inch (51 mm) pieces. A special optical sorter checks each piece. It throws out any piece that still has green parts on it.
- The pieces are moved through pipes to peeling tanks. These tanks have rotating parts that scrape off the carrot skins. This happens in two steps: first a rough peel, then a final "polishing" to make them smooth.
- To keep them safe from tiny germs, "baby-cut" carrots might be treated with a very small amount of chlorine. This is similar to how drinking water is cleaned. After this, they are rinsed with clean water to wash off any extra chlorine. This is a common and accepted way to clean fresh, ready-to-eat vegetables.
- Finally, machines weigh the carrots and put them into bags. They are then stored in a cold place until they are ready to be shipped to stores.
Sometimes, you might see a white film on "baby-cut" carrots. This white look happens when the cut surface gets a little dry. Since the whole surface of a "baby-cut" carrot is cut, they are more likely to get this. Keeping them in a cold, humid place can help prevent this white appearance.
Marketing "Baby-Cut" Carrots
In September 2010, a group of carrot farmers started a big marketing plan. This group was led by Bolthouse Farms. They called themselves "A Bunch of Carrot Farmers." Their goal was to make "baby-cut" carrots seem like a fun snack. They wanted kids to choose carrots instead of junk food.
Their campaign copied how snack food companies advertise. They used snack-like packaging for carrots. They made TV commercials that looked like futuristic or extreme sports ads. They even put carrot vending machines in schools. They also created an iPhone game and a website to make carrots more appealing.
