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BABY CARROTSAugust 2003
There are many considerations in establishing a new business including available resources, timecommitment, interest in the industry, financial considerations, and establishing a defined market. Thefollowing provides basic information on an industry based on a variety of resources. This document isintended for discussion purposes only and represents averages in an industry that is constantly changing.This is not intended to be a substitute for individual business planning and does not representrecommendations.
Information on how to prepare business plans is available from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture andFood (OMAF) factsheet Preparing a Business Plan, Order #99-011.
Introduction
The flavour and tenderness of baby carrots makes them desirable as a gourmet food, while theirconvenience makes them ideal for use as a snack or in a salad. True baby carrots are produced bygrowing actual baby carrot varieties. Most of the baby-style carrots that are found in grocery stores arenot actual baby carrots, but are fresh-cut or cut and peel carrots, produced by shaving regular-sizedcarrots down to the size of baby carrots. Also available are slender varieties, which are simply cut into 4to 6 pieces during processing. Processing requires a specialized production line that washes, cuts intosegments, peels, polishes, and packages the carrots.
Cultural Practices
Soil conditions Sandy loam to loam soils with good drainage and a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 are best.Soil that is free of stones and sod is desirable as this debris is collected by the harvester and must beremoved manually. A flat, even surface is necessary to ensure efficient harvest. Use a vegetable bedshaper if growing in raised beds. Beds should be at least 20 cm wider than the seeding width to protectagainst erosion and reduce edge loss during harvest.
Climate Irrigation is required. Ensure that the crop gets 1.25 cm of water every 4 days, and more whenthe weather is hot.
Length of Crop Establishment Annual
Growing days 70 to 90 days; typically 70 days for baby carrot varieties.
Planting rates Consult OMAF Publication 363, Vegetable Production Recommendations, for a list ofavailable cult ivars. Baby carrots can be produced in rows or beds. Use a scatter shoe for row seedingand space rows 23 to 36 cm apart, depending on the width of harvesting equipment. For bed seeding,rake the bed smooth, broadcast the seeds over the top of the soil using a scatter shoe-equipped seederthat can place rows 15 cm apart or closer, and cover with a mulch layer to keep weeds out and conservemoisture. Planting at high-density results in crowding and leads to small root size. Seed at a rate of 5million seeds/ha, three weeks before the last predicted frost. Soil should be friable and moist to ensureoptimal seedling emergence. Increase the planting rate if environmental conditions inhibiting seedlingemergence are present at seeding time. Planting occurs in May, June, and August.
Ontario Agricultural Value-Added Innovation Network
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Fertilizer requirements Recommended fertilizer rates will depend on soil test results. Apply up to 110 kgN/ha, two-thirds before planting and the remainder as a side dressing when the plants are 10 cm tall.Potassium and phosphate should be applied prior to planting and worked into the soil; base applicationrates on soil test information.
Pest control Crop rotation should help take care of most potential pest problems. Carrot rust fly, carrotweevil, and aster leafhopper are all important pests of carrot in Ontario. For management options,consult the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) publications Integrated Pest Managementfor Onions, Carrots, Celery, and Lettuce in Ontario, Publication 700, and The Aster Leafhopper and
Aster Yellows, Factsheet 98-057. For information on diagnosing and managing carrot diseases, consultthe OMAF publications Management of Carrot Leaf Diseases, Factsheet 00-045, and Identification andManagement of Carrot Root Diseases, Factsheet 98-001.
Harvesting and storage Harvesting takes place from July through October. If growing in beds, carrottop removal is necessary before the roots can be harvested. A variety of equipment can be used for topremoval, including a defoliator, such as that used for defoliating fresh-market carrots; a decrowner, whichremoves the carrot crown along with the top; or a flail-type mower or rotary mower adapted so that thewheels run outside the bed. Harvest immediately after crop removal. Harvesting in beds involves liftingthe top 15 cm of soil. Harvesters require a narrow-pitched digging chain, ample soil-elimination capacity,
and a cleaning section and sorting area for removal of debris. Potato harvesters that use narrow-pitchchains can be converted for harvesting baby carrots. FMC carrot harvesters can be modified forharvesting baby carrots grown in rows by using smaller pitched elevator and conveyor chains. Babycarrots are collected in bulk bins, rapidly removed from the field, and stored at 0
oC and 95% relative
humidity. Washing extends storage life by removing decay-causing organisms.
Key Management Factors
In 2002, baby carrots were harvested on 324 ha in Ontario, yielding an average of 6.3 t/ha and receivingan average price of $1225/t. Other carrots were harvested on 2752 ha, yielding an average of 32.4 t/haand receiving an average price of $149/t. Field trials in Prince Edward Island showed a large amount ofvariation in marketable yields among the different baby carrot (14.5 to 43.2 t/ha) and cut and peel (13.2 to38.3 t/ha) varieties tested. In Ontario, Agricorp (www.agricorp.com) insures cut and peel carrots, under
the plan for processing carrots, against yield losses due to drought, excessive moisture, frost, hail, wind,insect damage, and disease.
Market Opportunities
Markets should be identified and developed prior to growing baby carrots. Marketing opportunitiesinclude direct farm sales, farmers markets, retail grocery stores, and supermarket chains. Emphasisshould be placed on local markets as export markets are dominated by large-scale producers in theUnited States, primarily those in California, and are difficult to penetrate. Statutes specifically addressingthe processing of food products in Ontario include the federal Food and Drugs Act and the provincialFood Premises Regulation of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, the Food Safety and Quality Act,and the Farm Products Marketing Act.
Risks
Soil crusting and dry soil conditions in the rooting zone can result in poor seedling emergence and lowyield.
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Rules of Thumb
Bed-shaping and seeding equipment used for other vegetable crops can be used and harvesters used forother root vegetable crops can be modified for use in baby carrot and cut and peel carrot production.Labour is necessary for soil preparation (5 hours/ha), seeding (2 hours/ha), irrigation (5 hours/ha), and
harvest (26 hours/ha). Additional labour is required for packing and shipping.
Other resources
Sample Cost to Establish and Produce Carrots. University of California Cooperative Extension, CR-IM-03. 2003 http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu/cost-studies/Carrots03.pdf
Enterprise Budget: Carrots, North Central Region. Oregon State University Extension Service, EM8459.March 1991. http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/EM8459.pdf
Sources of Information Used to Prepare Document
Baby Carrot Production. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Factsheet 81-078 (out of print). July1981.
Vegetable Production Recommendation 2002-2003. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food,Publication 363. http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAF/english/products/hort.html#Vegetables
Long-Term Storage of Carrots. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Factsheet 98-073. December1998. http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAF/english/crops/facts/98-073.htm
Whole Baby Carrot Production in Prince Edward Island. Crops and Livestock Research Station,Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agri-Info 00-02. March 2000.
Carrots for Cut and Peel Processing in Prince Edward Island. Crops and Livestock Research Station,Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agri-Info 01-16. November 2001.
This document is prepared in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food with fundingfrom Human Resources Development Canada. This document is intended to provide preliminaryinformation on a value-added agriculture enterprise. The authors assume no liability or responsibility as aresult of the reader relying or acting upon the information contained herein. Any use or misuse of theinformation is the sole responsibility of the reader.
Ontario Agricultural Value-Added Innovation Network1100 Clarence Street South, Suite 103B, Box 12Brantford, Ontario N3S 7N8
