Carrot Guide

Seasonality of Main Producing Regions

Which are the top carrot producing countries?

China, Uzbekistan, and the United States were the largest producers of carrots in 2018, with China ranking first with an average of 17.90M MT of production followed by Uzbekistan with 2.19M MT of production, and the United States coming at the third spot with an average of 1.50M MT of production. Russia and Ukraine became the top four and five producers with Russia’s production amounts of 1.41M MT and Ukraine’s production amounts of 841.84K MT. 

What are the common varieties of carrots?

• Amsterdam - often grown as an early-season variety, 'Amsterdam' produces roots that are deep-orange and almost coreless. The average length is four to six inches and roots tend to be cylindrical and slim in shape. Good choice for greenhouse use, in addition to outdoor production.
• Berlikum - a fine winter root with a soft kernel. it is characterized by equal root diameter along its entire length. The taste is better than many other varieties, but due to the slightly greater softness, the handling characteristics in winter are slightly less. Berlikum has high yielding and is well suited for long-term storage.
  
• Chantenay - carrots are short and stout, with broad 4-8 cm crowns tapering quickly to a rounded point 15 cm away. Chantenay carrots can be eaten raw or cooked, with a sweet and crisp taste.
  

• Flakkee - a long type of carrot with strong very long roots up to 50 cm long. It has a good orange color and excellent flavor. Used mainly for processing purposes.

• Imperator - this carrot represents the best combination of eating qualities and fine appearance. The roots grow 18-20 cm long. It has a broad shoulder and gradually tapers to a fine taproot. Due to the form, it is easy to harvest.

• Kuroda - its roots are bright orange, 18–24 cm long, stump-rooted and cylindrical are tender and sweet flavored. Popular Asian market variety.

• Nantes - It produces sweet, crisp 15-18 cm cylindrical carrots, with blunt tips. It's less likely to form pithy cores when left in the field.
  

How is the carrot size determined?

The size is determined based on the largest diameter or weight of carrots without incision.

1. Early carrots and minor root varieties

• When sorting by diameter, the roots must be not less than 10 mm in diameter, and when sorted by weight, not less than 8 G.
• When sorting by diameter, the roots must be no more than 40 mm in diameter, and if sorted by weight, no more than 150 G.

2. Carrots from the main harvest and varieties with large roots

• When sorting by diameter, the roots must be not less than 20 mm in diameter, and when sorted by weight, not less than 50 G.

• When sorted by diameter, the roots classified in the "Extra" Class must be not more than 45 mm in diameter, and in the case of sorting by weight not more than 200 G, while the difference in diameter or weight between the smallest and largest root in any single package can not be more than 20 mm or 150 G.

• In the case of roots classified in Class I, the difference in diameter or weight between the smallest and largest roots in each package must not be more than 30 mm or 200 G.

• In the case of roots classified in class II, it is only necessary that the roots meet the minimum size requirements.

Trade Overview

Who are the top exporters of carrots in the global market?

Netherland, China, and the United States were the top exporters of carrots in 2020 among others. China had an export value of USD 351M with an export quantity of around 750K MT, followed by the Netherlands with an export value of USD 180M and export quantity around 392K MT, and for the third spot as a leading exporter, the United States had an export value of USD 121M and quantity around 105.K MT.

Spain and Italy were the top four and five exporters. With Spain’s export value of USD 84M and export quantity around 128K MT, followed by Italy with an export value of USD 76M and quantity around 103K MT.

Who are the current top importers of carrots in the global market?

Germany, the United States, and Canada were the top importers of carrots in 2020 among others. Germany’s import value of USD 158 M and import quantity around 250K MT, followed by the Canada with an import value of USD 114M and import quantity around 110K MT, and for the third spot as a leading importer, it was the USA with an import value of USD 113M and quantity around 212K MT

Russia and France were the top four and five importers. With Russia’s import value of USD 63M and import quantity around 159K MT, and France’s import value rose to USD 90M and quantity around 165.K MT. 

Packaging

How is carrot packaged?

For storage, transport, and wholesaler purposes carrot is packed:

• Wooden pallet boxes 400 - 600KG
• Polyethylene bags - 5KG, 10KG, 15KG, 20KG
  

For retail purposes is packed in:

• Plastic bags - 1KG, 3 KG, 5KG, 10KG

• Polyethylene bags - 1KG, 5KG

• Foiled plastic boxes - 0,5 KG, 1 KG

• Foiled cardboard boxes - 0,5 KG, 1 KG

Quality Control/Certification

What are the different grades of carrots?

Carrots are classified according to UNECE into three different classes:

1. 'Extra' class

• Carrots in this class must be of the highest quality and washed. It must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type. It must be free from defects except for very slight superficial defects, provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality, and the presentation in the package.
• The roots must: be smooth, have a fresh look, have a regular shape, be without furrows, be free from bruises and cracks, free from damage caused by frost.
  
• Green or purple/purple tops are not allowed.
  

2. Class I

Carrots in this class must be of good quality. It must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type.

• The roots must: have a fresh look, the following slight defects, however, may be allowed provided these do not affect the general appearance of the products, the quality, the keeping quality, and presentation in the package: slight defects in shape, slight defects in coloring, scarring cracks, slight cracks or fissures resulting from handling or washing.

• Green or purple/purple tops up to 1 cm in length for carrots not exceeding 10 cm in length and up to 2 cm for other carrots are allowed.

3. Class II

• This class includes carrots that do not qualify for inclusion in the above-mentioned higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements set out above.

• The following defects may be allowed provided the product retains the essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality, and presentation: defects in shape and color, scarred cracks not originating in the axle roll, cracks or fissures resulting from handling or washing.

• Green or purple/purple tops up to 2 cm in length for carrots not exceeding 10 cm in length and up to 3 cm for other carrots are allowed.

Source:

UNECE Standard FFV-10

What factors determine the quality of carrots?

• Whole, not a fragmented vegetable

• Healthy; a product with rotting symptoms or with such damage that renders it unfit for consumption is not allowed

• Clean; virtually no visible foreign matter, if it has been washed

• Practically without excessive dirt and impurities, if it has not been washed, or if it has been washed and covered with clean peat

• Firm

• Practically free from damage caused by pests

• Woody

• Without signs of root growth in the seed shoot
  

• Undeveloped, devoid of secondary roots
  

• Free of abnormal external moisture, i.e. properly drained after washing

• Free of any foreign smell and/or taste

• The degree of development and condition of the carrot must be such that it enables: good abolition of transport and handling, and arriving in a satisfactory condition to the destination

What are the factors to consider when producing carrots?

• Carrot is grown from sowing directly to a permanent place. Sowing is carried out to a depth of 1-3 cm depending on the type of soil.

• Early carrots should grow in the amount of 150-200 pieces / m2, late 120-180 pieces / m2, and this is intended for the processing industry 80-100 pieces / m2.

• In traditional sowing, distances between rows should not be less than 15 - 20 cm, In the ridge method, a single ridge is 20-25 cm high, 20-30 cm wide. The distance between ridges is 68-75 cm.

• The most important two treatments when growing carrots are weeding and fertilizing.

• Weeds removal can be carried out mechanically or with herbicides.

• The fertilizer requirement of this vegetable is from 75 to 150 KG of nitrogen, from 125 to 250 KG of K2O, and 60 to 125 KG of P2O5.

• The harvest is carried out with harvesters, occurring in a 1-3 row configuration, optionally equipped with toppers.

• Manual harvesting is carried out mostly in small plantations.

• Harvesting takes place in a sunny season, free of precipitation. The number of mechanical roots damage reduces the correspondingly high soil moisture. Harvests made after heavy rains harm the storage time of carrots.