CARROTS, THE UK AND EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

U.K. carrot yields have increased substantially over the last twelve years and the cropped area has shown a corresponding decrease.
This yield increase is not as a result of plant breeding.
Comparisons are made with yield trends for mainland Europe.
The dominant carrot in Europe has been the ‘Nantes’ type for more than forty years.
In the U.S. the ‘Imperator’ type is dominant.
This situation is likely to remain for the foreseeable future.
These two types of carrot have helped shape their respective prepared carrot markets.
Key carrot attributes may differ in importance for European and U.S. growers.
Prepared and fresh carrot consumption in the U.K. is increasing.
Marketing strategy has played a part albeit inadvertently, in the fresh carrot increase.
Ethical trading is high on the agenda and the financial implications to a retailer of failure to comply either directly or indirectly (such as via a supplier) are discussed.
Environmental issues are of major importance.
Issues such as the European pesticides review, proposed no spray buffer zones around properties and public access to crop spraying information are discussed.

I International Symposium on Root and Tuber Crops: Food Down Under

P. Wright

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.670.3