International carrot day is different to other celebrations and special days dedicated to foods or nature. However, this worldwide merriment aims to raise awareness for good nutrition and the source of income that carrots supply through agriculture.

Where days such as World Pulse Day or World Water Day are backed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), International Carrot Day does not have the same level of acclaim or support. Nonetheless, the day still serves an important educational role.

The global celebration of carrots was founded in 2003. It’s unknown who initially started the celebration, but it is suspected it was started to increase consumption and production of the popular root vegetable. Countries that have been celebrating the day include France, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

As a crop, carrots are one of the top ten crops that are the most economically important in both areas of production and market value. This edible taproot (Daucus carota) is rich in fibre and contains starch and sugars, such as sucrose and glucose. If you want to learn how to cultivate carrots, read our article about Vegetable planting guide part 3: Carrots and green beans.

This popular vegetable is rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, K1 and Biotin. One of the minerals found in carrots is Potassium (K) and these veggies are low in fat and protein. It also contains beta-carotene which the human body converts into vitamin A. Among these compounds are also alpha-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and anthocyanins.

Carrots are an all-purpose vegetable that can be roasted, boiled, eaten raw or juiced. It’s used in all kinds of dishes, including desserts such as carrot cakes. Interestingly, studies suggest that eating boiled carrots is healthier than raw portions. This is because boiling the veggies helps convert the nutrients into a form that is easier for people to digest.

Although many people may think of an orange root with deep green leaves when they hear the word ‘carrot’, the vegetable has many different variations in colour. Across the globe, different varieties are harvested, such as purple, red, black, white and yellow.

You can celebrate carrot day by sharing information about carrots. The FAO, for example, has information about how carrots and other vegetable wastage should be minimalised. You can also experiment with different carrot-inspired recipes. Snap a picture of you planting carrots or making a carrot-based dish and share it on social media with the hashtags #CarrotDay or #InternationalCarrotDay.

Sources:
Bjarnadottir, A. 2022. Carrots 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. Available: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/carrots.

Days of the year.2022. International Carrot Day. Available: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/carrot-day/

Department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. 2022. A profile of the South African carrot market value chain. Arcadia. Available: https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/doaDev/sideMenu/Marketing/Annual%20Publications/Commodity%20Profiles/field%20crops/Carrot%20Market%20Value%20Chain%20Profile%202018.pdf