Carrots
Carrot/Kāroti
Availability
Carrots are available all year round; they are at their best in the winter months
Storage and Handling
Store in the refrigerator. Handle all fresh produce with care and wash before eating.
History
Carrots date back as far as the 10th Century and have been a staple in many countries for thousands of years although it is only since the 16th century that they have been orange.
Facts
- Baby peeled carrots are actually larger carrots which are trimmed down to ‘baby size’ for sale
- Carrots contain vitamin A which can help healthy vision – that’s why they say rabbits have good vision (not a wives’ tale!)
- Carrots are root vegetables and normally orange in colour, although there are purple, red, white and yellow varieties – although they are not as commercially available
Growing Facts
- Plant carrots from September through to May (avoid frosts)
- Carrots are easy to grow in deep, well-drained soil and harvest in approx. 65 to 90 days
Nutrition Information
Carrots are a good source of vitamin A and a source of dietary fibre.
You will find the full Nutrition Information Panel on the New Zealand Food Composition Data website. This website is owned jointly by Plant & Food Research and the Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health. This website holds the most comprehensive collection of high-quality nutrient data for New Zealand foods. The Database is managed and maintained by dedicated Plant & Food Research staff.
