California carrot harvest should continue upward trend
California carrot harvest should continue upward trend
California fresh-market carrot production came in at 20.6 million hundredweight in 2005, 2.5 percent higher than both 2003 and 2004, when production came in at 20 million hundredweight.
"It was a bit of a surprise to me," said Jerry Munson of the California Fresh Carrot Advisory Board in Dinuba, CA, adding that it is further confirmation of the popularity of the baby cut-carrot market. He said that the full effect of baby cut-carrot production was first noticed in 1998, when fresh-market carrot production jumped into the 19 million range and stayed there through 2002.
The California Vegetable Review, published by the California Agricultural Statistics Service, indicated that a total of 67,000 acres of carrots were harvested in California for the fresh market in 2005, with an average per-acre yield of 305 hundredweight for a total production of 20.6 million hundredweight. That total was 2.5 percent higher than both 2003 and 2004.
Fresh-market carrots - including fresh-cut product - represented 87 percent of California's total carrot production in 2005.
California grows about 90 percent of the United States' commercially produced carrot supply, and most of California's carrots are grown in Kern County. Among the other important producing areas are Imperial County, Riverside County, the Lancaster area, Salinas Valley, the Cuyama Valley and Fresno County.
While carrot production and consumption are relatively stable throughout the year, the figures are somewhat higher during winter and spring than during summer and fall. Typically, about 39,000 acres of carrots are harvested in California during the first six months of the year, and around 29,000 acres are harvested during the last half of the year, according to the California Vegetable Review. The Jan. 31 issue noted that the California crop "is growing well with very few problems. High demand for baby carrots continues."
Much of California's carrot production during the winter and spring period comes from the state's southern desert regions.
Bakersfield, CA-based Grimmway Farms grows all its carrots in and around the Bakersfield area in the southern San Joaquin Valley in Central California. The company is the world's largest grower, packer and shipper of fresh, processed and frozen carrots, carrot juice concentrate, organic carrots and peeled baby carrots. The company also supplies its customers with a full line of organic products through its Cal-Organic Farms division.
Phil Gruszka, Grimmway's vice president of marketing, said that the company is finding ways to get kids to eat carrots. The company's "SpongeBob SquarePants" promotional campaign continues to be a success, he said. The company has a "SpongeBob" pack for schools.
"We trademarked the term 'kid-friendly,' " Mr. Gruszka said.
Grimmway's value-added category - including carrot shreds, coins and chips - grew by 40 percent in 2005 compared with the previous year, he said.
"We continue increased distribution for value-added," Mr. Gruszka noted. "Retailers have benefited."
The company's dippers - peeled baby carrots with low-fat ranch dressing - have also been a hit with consumers, Mr. Gruszka said.
Grimmway's organic category experienced double-digit growth in 2005 compared with the previous year, Mr. Gruszka said.
"Grimmway tries to be on the forefront" in understanding what people are going to want, Mr. Gruszka said.
What customers want, apparently, are carrots - even if that means consuming carbohydrates. The once-popular low-carb Atkins diet has virtually disappeared, but during the height of its popularity, carrot consumption took a hit.
"Consumers will buy a shredded carrot and will also buy a baby carrot," Mr. Gruszka said. "Baby carrots represent a huge portion of carrots. People love carrots - we're trying to come up with more recipes."
John Burton, sales manager for Coachella, CA-based Peter Rabbit Farms, said that there has been higher demand for jumbo and cello-pack carrots.
Peter Rabbit's acreage is about the same as last year, but it is getting higher yields in its fields, Mr. Burton said. The company harvests carrots in Coachella from December though May and in the Lancaster and Bakersfield areas of California in the summer and fall. Baby carrots are doing a booming business for Peter Rabbit. "There's great demand for good, sweet carrots," Mr. Burton said. Petite-sized carrots are popular for party trays and with schools, Mr. Burton said.
Peter Rabbit's carrot business has boomed since the company went from being a seasonal grower to a year-round harvester of premium-quality "Peter Rabbit Farms" brand carrots in 1997. The company's full line of carrots includes sticks, shreds, chips, coins and whole-carrot cello packs. In business for more than 50 years, Peter Rabbit is among the older California carrot companies.
"It was a bit of a surprise to me," said Jerry Munson of the California Fresh Carrot Advisory Board in Dinuba, CA, adding that it is further confirmation of the popularity of the baby cut-carrot market. He said that the full effect of baby cut-carrot production was first noticed in 1998, when fresh-market carrot production jumped into the 19 million range and stayed there through 2002.
The California Vegetable Review, published by the California Agricultural Statistics Service, indicated that a total of 67,000 acres of carrots were harvested in California for the fresh market in 2005, with an average per-acre yield of 305 hundredweight for a total production of 20.6 million hundredweight. That total was 2.5 percent higher than both 2003 and 2004.
Fresh-market carrots - including fresh-cut product - represented 87 percent of California's total carrot production in 2005.
California grows about 90 percent of the United States' commercially produced carrot supply, and most of California's carrots are grown in Kern County. Among the other important producing areas are Imperial County, Riverside County, the Lancaster area, Salinas Valley, the Cuyama Valley and Fresno County.
While carrot production and consumption are relatively stable throughout the year, the figures are somewhat higher during winter and spring than during summer and fall. Typically, about 39,000 acres of carrots are harvested in California during the first six months of the year, and around 29,000 acres are harvested during the last half of the year, according to the California Vegetable Review. The Jan. 31 issue noted that the California crop "is growing well with very few problems. High demand for baby carrots continues."
Much of California's carrot production during the winter and spring period comes from the state's southern desert regions.
Bakersfield, CA-based Grimmway Farms grows all its carrots in and around the Bakersfield area in the southern San Joaquin Valley in Central California. The company is the world's largest grower, packer and shipper of fresh, processed and frozen carrots, carrot juice concentrate, organic carrots and peeled baby carrots. The company also supplies its customers with a full line of organic products through its Cal-Organic Farms division.
Phil Gruszka, Grimmway's vice president of marketing, said that the company is finding ways to get kids to eat carrots. The company's "SpongeBob SquarePants" promotional campaign continues to be a success, he said. The company has a "SpongeBob" pack for schools.
"We trademarked the term 'kid-friendly,' " Mr. Gruszka said.
Grimmway's value-added category - including carrot shreds, coins and chips - grew by 40 percent in 2005 compared with the previous year, he said.
"We continue increased distribution for value-added," Mr. Gruszka noted. "Retailers have benefited."
The company's dippers - peeled baby carrots with low-fat ranch dressing - have also been a hit with consumers, Mr. Gruszka said.
Grimmway's organic category experienced double-digit growth in 2005 compared with the previous year, Mr. Gruszka said.
"Grimmway tries to be on the forefront" in understanding what people are going to want, Mr. Gruszka said.
What customers want, apparently, are carrots - even if that means consuming carbohydrates. The once-popular low-carb Atkins diet has virtually disappeared, but during the height of its popularity, carrot consumption took a hit.
"Consumers will buy a shredded carrot and will also buy a baby carrot," Mr. Gruszka said. "Baby carrots represent a huge portion of carrots. People love carrots - we're trying to come up with more recipes."
John Burton, sales manager for Coachella, CA-based Peter Rabbit Farms, said that there has been higher demand for jumbo and cello-pack carrots.
Peter Rabbit's acreage is about the same as last year, but it is getting higher yields in its fields, Mr. Burton said. The company harvests carrots in Coachella from December though May and in the Lancaster and Bakersfield areas of California in the summer and fall. Baby carrots are doing a booming business for Peter Rabbit. "There's great demand for good, sweet carrots," Mr. Burton said. Petite-sized carrots are popular for party trays and with schools, Mr. Burton said.
Peter Rabbit's carrot business has boomed since the company went from being a seasonal grower to a year-round harvester of premium-quality "Peter Rabbit Farms" brand carrots in 1997. The company's full line of carrots includes sticks, shreds, chips, coins and whole-carrot cello packs. In business for more than 50 years, Peter Rabbit is among the older California carrot companies.
