Carrots (Daucus carota) are a root vegetable that are most commonly orange. Typically the taproot is eaten, though the stems and leaves are also edible. Fast-growing cultivars can reach maturity within 90 days. They can be eaten either raw or cooked, and have many processing applications.
Market Size
Global Carrot Production
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the world production of carrots and turnips in 2022 was 42,233,349.83 tons. The top 10 producing countries in the world generate approximately 71% of the global carrot and turnip supply. In 2022, the global carrot and turnip crop occupied approximately 1,110,837 hectares.
Country | Production, 2022 (tons) | Area Harvested, 2022 (hectares) | Yield, 2022 (100 g/ha) | Percent of global total |
China | 18,768,100 | 410,242 | 457,488 | 44% |
Uzbekistan | 3,915,983.46 | 47,023 | 832,780 | 9% |
United States | 1,381,461 | 25,576 | 540,140 | 3% |
Russia | 1,362,175.81 | 42,535 | 320,248 | 3% |
United Kingdom | 887,502 | 14,321 | 619,721 | 2% |
TĂĽrkiye | 790,983 | 13,657 | 579,178 | 2% |
Germany | 780,490 | 13,610 | 573,468 | 2% |
Ukraine | 748,930 | 38,200 | 196,055 | 2% |
Indonesia | 737,965.25 | 39,098 | 188,748 | 2% |
France | 662,410 | 15,000 | 441,607 | 2% |
Japan | 627,448.93 | 16,959 | 369,985 | 1% |
Source: FAOSTAT, find the data we pulled here.
China is by far the largest producer of carrots globally, followed distantly by Uzbekistan, and more distantly still by the U.S., Russia, and other European and Asian producers. Carrots are commonly consumed around the world, and are a relevant ingredient in many diets globally. China is also the global leader in exports of carrots globally, followed by the Netherlands and the U.S. In terms of imports, North America and Europe represent the largest import regions, with the U.S. importing the most carrots and turnips of any country. Germany, Canada, Vietnam, and Russia are also major importers.
Globally, carrot and turnip production has been on the rise in recent decades, responding to increasing demand for fresh carrots, particularly since the introduction and rise in popularity of the baby carrot— a more snackable, lightly processed form of fresh carrots, which were first available in the 1990s.
FIGURE: Global Carrot and Turnip Production, 2004-2022
Since the 2000s, the increase in demand for carrots is related to more interest in fresh-cut applications like baby carrots, and also awareness around the health benefits of carrots and other fiber- and nutrient-rich vegetables, especially as a replacement for junk food and as a snack item. Carrot juice, which is currently the second most popular vegetable juice after tomato, has also seen an increase in interest. Growth in demand for organic carrots has also be substantial, both globally and in the U.S.
U.S. Carrot Trends
Carrot production in the U.S. has oscillated up and down in recent years, alongside domestic demand for the vegetable.
According to the USDA National Ag Statistic Service, California leads the U.S. in terms of carrot production, accounting for around 85% of total U.S. production. Washington is the second highest-producing state, followed by Wisconsin, which together with other states make up the remaining 15%. A small amount of carrot production exists in almost all states.
The value of California’s carrot production in 2022 totaled about $886 million, as compared to Washington’s $399 million and Wisconsin’s $9 million. Within California, the San Joaquin & Cuyama Valleys, along with Imperial, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Monterey Counties are major carrot production regions.
In 2023, the U.S. carrot crop occupied 65,800 acres, with yields averaging 446.2 cwt/acre, for a total crop of 29,359,000 cwt. This crop was sold at an average price of $62.10/cwt, for an overall U.S. carrot crop value of $1,823,237,000. Organic carrot production is on the rise in the U.S., with California and Washington leading the way. In 2021, 3,649,438 cwt (185,400 metric tons) of organic carrots were produced in the U.S.
According to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture (2022), there are about 1,076 carrot farms in the U.S. larger than 1 acre, though around 200 account for most of the nation’s production.
Though carrot consumption is somewhat unpredictable from year to year, there is still a slight positive trend in U.S. consumption. Carrot consumption trends vary based on key demographics, including age (consumers 60+ are the most regular purchasers of fresh carrots), ethnicity, gender, children in the household, and income. Today, baby carrots (or more accurately, baby-cut carrots) account for 54% of the U.S. carrot market overall, and are becoming more attractive in Asian markets as well. The majority of the US carrot market is dedicated to fresh applications, and market prices for frozen, canned, juiced, and ingredient carrots tend to be much lower than fresh market prices.
Varietals
Though all carrots fall into the Apiaceae family (along with parsley, celery, cilantro, and others), there are many distinct cultivars that are commonly grown in the U.S. and around the world. Though there many varieties, four types are most common commercially.
The most commonly grown commercial variety, imperator carrots boast a long tapered tip on a taproot that grows as long as 12 inches. These orange carrots are of excellent quality when young, but become woody and fibrous at maturity, which is common among most carrot varieties. This variety stores well and is commonly processed into baby carrots, favored for its high sugar content and fresh flavor, but is also common in fresh market and other cut-and-peel processing applications. USDA grading standards for carrots do not distinguish between individual varieties of carrots.
Deep, sandy soils are best for these types, given that heavy soils can cause the taproot to become disfigured. These varieties tend to take around 75 days to reach harvest-readiness. Critical traits include the shape, top (length and attachment), and whether or not the variety is bolt-resistant.
Specific varieties of Imperator-type carrots are selected for their market application. Cut and peel market varieties (for making baby-cut carrots, etc.) include Sugarsnax, Primecut, Trinity, and Tastypeel. Cello varieties (packaged topped but otherwise whole in bag for home cooking applications) include Apache, Navajo, Maverick, and Choctaw.
Similar to the Imperator varieties, Danvers are orange carrots with light centers that have a slightly conical shape and reach 6-8 inches at maturity, and are therefore considered a medium-length variety. They are known for their excellent color, flavor, and storability. Danvers are a preferred variety for processing, especially for dicing markets.
Danvers can tolerate heavier or shallower soils without becoming misshapen. These varieties tend to take around 70 days to reach harvest-readiness. Critical traits include the shape, color, and cracking/splitting and disease resistance.
This type is more common for processing, juicing, and storage.
These more traditionally cone-shaped varieties are known for sweetness and strong storability. Chantenay are the preferred variety for canning and freezing applications, especially for dicing markets.
They are also better adapted to heavy clay or rocky soils than any other carrot variety. These varieties tend to take around 70 days to reach harvest-readiness. Critical traits include the shape, tops (length), and disease resistance.
These widely adaptable carrots have a relatively straight, cylindrical root that grows to be about 6 inches long with a blunted tip. These varieties tend to be used in fresh market applications, but can also be used for slicing.
Loose sandy soils or raised beds are beds to achieve the sweetness and firm texture these varieties are known for, but they are often passed over due to their limited storage potential. These varieties tend to take around 70 days to reach harvest-readiness. Critical traits include the shape, tops (length), and disease resistance. These varieties are not particularly common in commercial operations in California.
A small portion of commercial acreage is dedicated to fancy carrot varieties, specifically those that do not produce orange roots at maturity.
Cosmic Purple, for example, is a Danvers type carrot, known for its purple exterior and orange flesh. Solar Yellow is a hybrid variety that’s also common today, along with Atomic Red and Lunar Whites, a sweet, mild variety. These types are often sold collectively as “Rainbow Bunches.”
Some related specialty crops, including parsley and cilantro, tend to be cultivated under similar conditions as carrots, though they are harvested, packaged, and marketed quite differently.
These are highly specialized and niche crops, and there is little publicly available data on production or sales of any of these products in the U.S. currently.
Addressable Market
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global carrot market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.10% through 2029, from a value of $14 billion in 2019, making it one of the top 10 vegetables produced globally. Demand for carrots around the world is expected to remain steady due to health-conscious consumer trends, and has grown substantially in recent decades in Asia. Products like baby carrots and other carrot snacks, organic carrots, and carrot juice are expect to lead the sector.
The value of U.S. carrot production in 2023 totaled $1.82 billion, which grew around $500 million in value over 2022. U.S. production is expected to continue apace.
The true addressable market for carrot management technologies will be approximately equal to the cost of labor and other inputs needed to manage and harvest carrots. So to determine the value of a specific technology to the sector, it’s necessary to understand the costs associated with carrot production.
Current Challenges and Key Opportunities
Grower Challenges: Production
Successful carrot growers oversee a complex production system that requires careful and continuous management over a variety of plant life-stages. Carrots are a cool season crop that are sensitive to weather extremes, changes in soil, pests, and handling during and after harvest. Therefore cultivating carrots requires significant planning, labor, and financial outlay.
- There are many factors to consider when planning carrot plantings including: soil type and pH, pest and disease history, drainage, water access and quality, and weather. Soil testing is a critical first step in determining whether a given acre is well-suited to carrot production.
- Soil type is perhaps the most important determinant of good carrot stands. Loose or light soils are essential, because heavy soils are likely to lead to shortened, deformed, or otherwise stunted roots. Additionally, overly wet soils reduce carrot performance, leading to reduced productivity. Sandy loam soils are ideal for the growth of long straight roots, ideally free of stones and pebbles to 12”-14”. Sandy soils are also workable, though will likely require more frequent irrigation.
- Land preparation, including turning soils to around 14”, subsoiling to break up compacted areas, and bed-shaping is necessary to encourage a healthy carrot stand.
- Carrots are almost always direct-seeded, commonly using vacuum, belt, or plate (with scatter plate or spreader shoe attachment) seeders, which plant carrot seeds in narrow bands.
- Growers have some latitude in determining how to lay out a carrot field.
- There are many variations in the number of rows, row spacing, and bedwidth, depending on conditions, grower preference, and the end use of the carrot (fresh market, processing, cello, etc.). The seeding rate per acre is also variable, and can be as high as 1,000,000 seeds per acre. Carrot beds are sometimes raised to improve drainage.
- Some possible carrot bed arrangements include:
- Beds arranged with six or eight rows per 40” bed, with three or four rows on each shoulder, spaced approximately 2” apart. This planting results in approximately 40 plants per foot of bed. Seeds are only lightly covered or not covered at all (the coverage of sand/soil falling into the groove during irrigation is sufficient).
- Beds either 72” from center to center of 92”. Depending on the bed width, each bed will contain about six to eight seed rows, organized in sets of twin rows about 3” apart, with 14” to 18” between each set. Within-row spacing should be about 2”, and seeds should be planted no deeper than 1/2”.
- Beds planted in sets of triplet rows (rather than two), with 2” to 3” between each row, to increase density. Though this can greatly increase population (and yield), it can also reduce the number of jumbo carrots produced and increase the likelihood of some diseases. It’s also inadvisable except on the lightest and most well-drained soils.
- An ideal planting rate will be around 450,000 carrots per acre for fresh market, and 300,000 carrots per acre for processing carrots.
- Protecting young carrots from wind is critical, especially in sandy desert conditions. Sandblasting injury is common, and can significantly decrease yield.
- When selecting a variety, growers will choose those that they have a preference for and which they feel are well-suited for their farm’s unique conditions.
- Variation in days to maturity and other features (color, size, etc.) can be significant between varieties, so careful selection of a variety well-suited to the soils, weather, and other farm conditions are crucial to reach both quality and quantity goals.
- Rich color and small diameter core are key characteristics for fresh market, along with length, maturity, uniformity, good flavor, and high sugar content. Disease resistance is often not a primary factor when selecting carrot varieties.
- Planting in California generally occurs in the fall, between September and November.
- Sprinkler irrigation is necessary particularly during stand establishment to prevent crusting, which can impact germination. Furrow irrigation can be use throughout the rest of the season, though it is common in many growing regions to use sprinkler irrigation throughout the season.
- Water usage varies depending on plant age, species, climate, and soil type. But other factors, including the energy cost of pumping water, the cost of water itself, a growers irrigation strategy, and any rules or restrictions put in place by local water districts could influence the amount of water that growers apply.
- Total amount of irrigation will vary depending on local conditions. Though some essential water each year will come from rainfall and existing soil moisture, carrot growers in California will still likely need to irrigate for many months of the year, especially because significant, unmanaged dry-wet cycles can lead to deformations in carrot roots.
- One critical irrigation period is the two weeks after seeding, when carrots are typically irrigated every other day to keep beds moist (though recent research suggests that carrots may be commonly over-irrigated during this period). Another critical time is between fruit set and harvest, when water stress must be avoided to prevent root splitting.
- Salinity management is a key issue for any grower using irrigation water, due to the tendency of dissolved salts (sodium, chloride, and boron) to concentrate in irrigation water, which is then transferred to soils. For carrots in particular, exposure to salt can lead to yield losses.
- Use of drip irrigation is not widely adopted in carrot production, for a number of reasons, including that drip equipment tends to interfere with harvest, and drip tape buried deep enough not to interfere does not distribute water evenly across a field.
- Modern irrigation management generally involves water budgeting, soil water measurement and monitoring (especially through the use of probes), weather-based irrigation scheduling, and the use of other digital applications. Growers will increasingly hire specialized irrigation managers to plan and manage water allotments, scheduling, and quantity allocations during times of shortage.
- Water access may well be the primary concern in most Californian growing regions— with a chief question being whether irrigation water is to be drawn from surface sources or from a well. Both options have their benefits and drawbacks; namely, surface water can be less expensive to pump, but can be cut when water is not available during periods of drought. Conversely, growers generally have more access to and control over wells, though there are risks related to land subsidence (due to over-pumping) and the possibility of the well drying up.
- Given their deep taproots, carrots are effective at drawing nitrogen (N) and other key nutrients from a broad area of soil. However, providing adequate nutrition remains critical to producing an abundant and high-quality harvest.
- Residual soil N from a previous field crop is often sufficient for germinating carrot seedlings, and avoiding over application of N is important to prevent root forking. Requirements and rates for fertilizers will vary depending on a variety of factors, especially the results of soil tests.
- In California, 60-80 pounds of N are commonly sidedressed (applied between rows) during the growing season. Phosphorous (P) is usually applied before planting and disced into the soil (to prevent forking), often at a rate of around 400-500 pounds/acre.
- Additional nutrients, including potassium, zinc, lime, sulfur, or boron may be applied either pre-planting or sidedressed.
- Growers, especially in California, must comply with water quality control standards that limit the amount of fertilizer runoff in water that flows off an agricultural property. This compliance, in addition to the fact that soil amendments are a cost on the farm’s balance sheet, makes careful and precise nutrient management particularly important.
- Petiole analysis, or plant tissue testing of carrot leaves, is a common method to determine if there are nutrient deficiencies within a carrot field during the season. Otherwise, it is not also visually apparent when examining a carrot stand whether the crop is sufficiently nourished.
- There are many pests, including insects, weeds, diseases, and invertebrates that carrot growers will have to contend without throughout an ordinary growing season. Read on for more on the products and practices growers use to combat these threats. For more on the pests themselves and how they affect the crop, see Considerations for Pests and Diseases below.
- The development of an integrated pest management plan at the farm level is critical to avoid major pest-related problems (including chemical resistance). Careful monitoring and taking timely action during specific periods of the season and plant growth stages to prevent outbreaks can mean the difference between a successful crop and total destruction.
- The critical periods including pre-plant/bed preparation, planting to stand establishment, vegetative development, harvest, and post harvest, including handling and in-field activities.
- The first step in managing pests in the carrot stand is non-chemical, cultural practices like mechanical cultivation, crop rotation, field sanitation, good drainage, and irrigation management to avoid wet, stagnant conditions that threaten the health of the crop and create opportunities for diseases and fungi to proliferate. In particular, carrots are often planted only once every three years to minimize pest problems. This kind of crop rotation, as well as careful preparation and spacing of beds also reduced opportunity for pest populations to emerge later in the season.
- The most common cultural control practices include optimal planting, irrigation, and fertilizer management, all of which contribute to healthy and vigorous carrot stands— the best line of defense against pest and disease. Planting cover crops for soil improvement, using green manures, mowing, deep plowing and burning have also been effective.
- In the production of organic carrots, there are significantly fewer chemical tools, especially for controlling weeds. Mechanical weed solutions for organic carrots represent a major opportunity in this niche.
- Soil fumigation is a key activity in many carrot fields, as it is a critical tool for managing nematode, disease, and weeds.
- Insects are a major concern in carrot stands, requiring careful crop scouting throughout the season. Given that there are few biological control options available to carrot producers, the use of selective insecticides (in compliance with current labels) is warranted. This should be done carefully to avoid making other pest issues more severe and to avoid the risk of developing resistance in insect populations.
- The first line of defense against diseases in the field is again cultural controls, like avoiding excessively wet soils. Additionally, inadequate nutrition is also a major contributor to these issues, as many physiological disorders can be traced to nutritional imbalances or deficiencies. Beyond that, the application of fungicides and other chemical treatments may be called for to keep plants healthy.
- Vertebrates can be a nuisance while preparing carrot fields, particularly burrows of gophers, rabbits, and ground squirrels. Mechanical traps and fences are the most effective controls.
- Growers will likely hire a Pest Control Advisor (PCA) or a crop consultant to monitor for pests, nutritional deficiencies, and other agronomic problems. This expert will likely also recommend products and practices tailored to a farm’s specific needs.
- The major carrot harvest in California takes place between February and May, though throughout much of the state, carrot production is essentially a year-round endeavor. The exact timing of harvest on a given farm is effected by variety, planting date, and seasonal climatic conditions, though it tends to occur between 85-135 days after planting.
- The vast majority of commercial carrots are harvested mechanically with self-propelled multi-row harvesters. Machine-harvested carrots are pulled, loaded into bulk wagons, and transported out of the field. Commercial carrot growers generally opt for 4-row machines that can harvest two beds per pass. These machines lift the roots, remove the tops, and transport the roots to a waiting trailer or other transport vehicle.
- 40%-80% of carrots are generally “packed out” during a harvest, though when less than 60% of the field is harvestable, the packout rate is considered poor. The factors that are most likely to limit packout rates are size variability, misshapen fruit, and harvest splitting.
- Post-harvest handling, including culling, grading, washing, packing, and any further processing, is generally done off-farm in a packing shed, and transport costs from the field to a facility is usually shared between the grower and the receiver.
- On large farms, the harvest process is generally carried out by the farm itself with owned equipment and hired labor. On small to medium-sized farms, custom harvesting companies are more likely to be employed, which are paid a contracted rate, often a given amount per 50 lbs sack.
- However, a small quantity of bunched and untopped carrots (which still have their leafy top attached) are hand harvested, especially specialty varieties. This work is labor-intensive and requires hand pulling, in-field sorting and bunching, as well as on-site packing and washing.
- One acre of carrots produced approximately 54,000 pounds of carrots in 2022. Productivity per acre will vary significantly depending on the variety and other factors.
- Post-harvest cooling and storage is critical to ensure that carrots retain the proper flavor, color, and texture throughout their lifecycle. Between the field and the packing shed, it’s critical the carrots not be left uncovered in bright sunlight or exposed to extreme heat or coldness. Preventing post-harvest disease by avoiding breakage and splitting (pre-harvest) and following good cultural practices like cleaning harvest equipment is essential. At ideal long term storage conditions, 0°C and greater than 95% relative humidity, carrots can be kept for up to six months.
- The overall size and scale of the farming operation, and what (if any) other crops/varieties the farmer grows.
- The level of vertical integration in a vegetable business.
- Whether the land is owned or rented by the grower.
- Infrastructure availability (road access, irrigation systems, building locations, etc.)
Grower Challenges: Economics
Common Carrot Farm Business Model
Carrot growers sell fresh produce to wholesalers, retailers, food manufacturers, food service providers, and other buyers, or in rare cases, process their products themselves and sell ingredients (frozen, canned, etc.) or finished products (i.e. baby carrots).
Growers sell carrots in the U.S. by the hundredweight (cwt), pound (lbs), or metric ton. For the largest carrot producers, like Grimmway Farms and Bolthouse Farms, vertical integration from farm to packing and processing to consumer brand means that farm essentially sells produce directly into the retail channel. Grimmway and Bolthouse currently account for approximately 80% of the carrot market.
Beyond these major players, carrots are also grown and sold on contract to independent packers and shippers, food manufacturers, or directly to retailers or food service customers, and a small amount are sold directly to consumers through on-farm sales or farm stands.
Therefore, the success of a carrot farm business will depend on the yields achieved, the quality of the product, the price, and the distribution networks a given farmer is able to access. Additionally, carrot growers must consider other costs such as labor, fertilizer, pest management, land costs (including land rent if leasing), as well as the potential for unexpected weather or market conditions when managing their farm business year to year.
The yield of the average acre of carrots can vary significantly based on a number of factors, especially variety and geography. Many factors also determine the actual price per unit of carrot a given grower receives. Because of the difficulty of determining these two factors, in addition to the impossibility of generalizing about input costs and other expenses, determining whether carrot production in a given season on a given farm is profitable is difficult.
The price that carrot producers receive is dependent upon variety, timing, quality, and other market factors. Specific quality standards vary by geography and purchaser.
- More on USDA Grades & Standards - Carrot:
- Bunched Carrots Grades and Standards
- Canned Carrots Grades and Standards
- Carrots for Processing Grades and Standards
- Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops Grades and Standards
- Frozen Carrots Grades and Standards
- Topped Carrots Grades and Standards
- More on Grading from the Produce Blue Book - Carrot
Carrot Crop Budget
We highly recommend taking time to understand crop budgets before having a conversation with growers to better understand their needs and costs.
- Crop Enterprise Budget Example #1: Carrots (Fresh Market) | Southeast Interior
- Crop Enterprise Budget Example #2: Carrots (Processing) | Southeast Interior
- Crop Enterprise Budget Example #3: Carrots (Cello Packed) | Southeast Interior
It is critical to understand that farm economics and budgets vary widely between individual farm operations, as well as by year, as a result of a landscape of factors, from water availability to input costs. Because of these variations in cost of production, it is difficult to generalize about the economic status of a given grower or region.
Carrot Production Costs
Though there are many fairly standard expenses within a carrot operation, the magnitude of related costs varies widely based on geography, soil type, and weather among other factors.
- Land (rent or purchase)
- Property alterations (including tillage, bed creation, etc.)
- Irrigation systems (including installation)
- Production and harvest equipment, facilities, and vehicles (including planting equipment, vehicles, etc.)
- Water (generally calculated per acre-inch or acre-foot)
- Seeds
- Energy and fuel costs
- Equipment/facilities maintenance
- Post-harvest transportation costs
- Inputs (including fertilizer, soil amendments, pesticides and other crop protection, etc.)
- Auditing, compliance, and inspections (often charged either per pound or per acre)
- Property taxes
- Insurance
- Sales and marketing costs
- Depending on the type of carrot product being produced, labor can be one of the largest expenses on a farm’s balance sheet.
- Though many aspects of carrot production are mechanized, from seeding to harvest, labor is still necessary to do daily tasks like operating machinery (spraying, mowing, disking), crop scouting, irrigation, etc. Some of this work can also be hired out to custom businesses that will, for example, provide crop protection application services for a fee, providing the machines and workers in the process.
- For processing carrots, harvesting and post-harvest handling is largely mechanized and therefore relatively little additional labor is required at harvest. This may be carried out by the farm or by a custom harvester, who will charge by the unit harvested, providing equipment and equipment operators.
- For bunched carrots (with their tops in tact), however, harvesting and packing are carried out entirely by hand. This can require the recruitment and hiring of dozens of workers throughout the season, or the outlay of significant expense to hire a custom harvest crew.
- A carrot farm’s labor force is usually composed of a mix of salaried managers, directly hired full-time, part-time, and H-2A temporary workers, and indirect laborers who work for a hired labor/harvest contractor. Additionally, growers may also hire contractors like pest control or crop protection advisors, accountants, and others.
- In California, minimum wage for agricultural workers is $16.00/hour in 2024, with additional requirements around overtime and days off. Actual labor costs as predicted by UC Davis in California is around $29.60/hour for machine operators and $23.68/hour for general laborers, including employers’ share of federal and state payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, and other benefits.
- Another labor-related cost to growers includes field sanitation, which primarily includes providing toilets and washing facilities within a certain area of all field crews at all times. These facilities require weekly servicing.
Consideration for Pests and Disease
Carrot plants are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases that can impact quality and yield. When exploring solutions for growers, care should be taken to avoid increasing opportunity for pests and disease to proliferate throughout the farm, for example, by being transported on equipment. There are several major points during the course of the season when growers need to be particularly vigilant about specific pests, and during which only certain kinds of pest control measures are useful, effective, or allowable. Find more information on recommended Integrated Pest Management (IPM) regimes for carrots here.
Insects and Nematodes
- Aphids: Carrots are sensitive to a variety of aphids, including; Bean Aphid, Cotton (Melon) Aphid, Crown and Root Aphids, Green Peach Aphid, Willow-Carrot Aphid, and Honeysuckle Aphid. Aphids can cause direct damage to carrot plants in high populations, but can also transmit viruses and diseases like celery mosaic, carrot motley dwarf, carrot red leaf, and parsnip yellow fleck. In particular, damage done to carrot tops can weaken the plants overall, leading to poor health and causing the tops to break off, making harvest of the root impossible. Curled and distorted leaves are a sign of aphid feeding in carrots. Some types of aphids are effectively managed with biological control agents like lacewing, lady beetles, and syrphid fly larvae, as well as common parasites and fungus disease. Other aphid types are not very susceptible to biological control, and a combination of field sanitation and chemical treatment may be required.
- Saltmarsh Caterpillar: This pest is primarily a problem when carrots are planted near cotton fields. When neighboring fields become defoliated, saltmarsh caterpillars will migrate to more newly planted carrot fields nearby, leading to defoliation and yield loss. The first line of defense is cultural controls, specifically, trenching the edges of fields that border cotton and preventing (as much as possible) the movement of resources from one location to the other. Chemical applications are also useful.
- Whiteflies: Carrot seedlings in California’s low deserts are sensitive to dense populations of silverleaf whitefly especially in the late summer and early fall. There are few visual symptoms of a resulting infestation except for a shiny residue (honeydew) on the leaves, which can lead to sooty mold and cause quality concerns, especially for bunching carrots. Some biological control methods are effective, including encouragement of bigeyed bugs, lacewing, and lady beetle populations. Controlling whiteflies with insecticides is often difficult, especially if applications are not attempted until after an outbreak is underway.
- Nematodes: Needle nematode (in the Imperial Valley, stubby root nematode (statewide), and root knot nematode (the most important and widely distributed in California) can cause forked carrot roots and are a major pest in the carrot field. If left uncontrolled, nematodes can result in a 50% yield loss through uneven growth, stand reduction, reduced marketability, and increased costs. Field sanitation is essential to control populations of plant-parasitic nematodes, including practices like cleaning equipment, eliminating weeds during off-years, crop rotation, carefully timing planting, and soil solarization. Fumigation or other chemical treatment is often required to control nematode populations.
- Palestriped Flea Beetle: Both larval and adult flea beetles can impact carrots in desert climates. Adult beetles feed on carrot leaves, reducing plant health and potentially even killing seedlings. Larvae more commonly feed on carrot roots, reducing size and quality. Up to three generations of the flea beetle can occur within a single carrot season. Biological controls are limited in their effectiveness against the flea beetle, and insecticide applications are often warranted.
- Other insects of concern include;
- Crickets
- Grasshoppers
- Cutworms (Black cutworm and Variegated cutworm)
- Spider mites
Fungus and Diseases
- There are two general types of diseases in carrots: soil-born and foliar. Diseases are generally either soil-borne or introduced by an insect vector, which is a critical aspect of treatment.
- Soil-borne diseases include;
- Cavity Spot (the most critical carrot disease),
- Root Dieback (Forking and Stubbing) and other forking disorders
- Bacterial Soft Rot
- Cottony Soft Rot
- Southern Blight
- Black Rot (Black Crown)
- Bacterial soft spots
- Foliar diseases include;
- Other fungi include damping-off fungi, early blight, and light blight.
- Issues resulting from mechanical injuries, including sand blasting (when young plants are exposed to sand and high winds) are also possible and can lead to impaired plant health.
Weeds
- In carrot fields and beds, weeds compete with plants for nutrients, water and light, and can contribute to the growth and spread of insect and disease problems. Different weeds are of particular concern during different seasons, and growers must stay on top of weed populations and ensure effective control method applications. Left untreated, weeds can reduce carrot yields by 80%.
- Weed types vary depending on geography and soil type, but some common varieties include; London rocket, mustards, pineappleweed, common groundsel, shepherdspurse, little mallow, annual sowthistle, canary grass, barnyardgrass, lambsquarters, pigweeds, nightshades, purslane, Russian thistle, and yellow and purple nutsedge (the most severe weed in California carrots). Find an even more extensive list here.
- Managing weeds requires care to ensure that eradication actions don’t lead to soil erosion or compaction, which can also have deleterious impacts on nutrients and water penetration.
- Repeated use of herbicides with the same mode of action can also lead to herbicide resistance. An integrated weed management plan, as part of a broader integrated pest management plan, should be developed for a given farm to prevent long term issues.
- Tillage, flaming, and chemical control methods are most common for weed management pre-planting. Weed control after germination generally centers on chemical applications.
Vertebrates
- Vertebrates are not a substantial problem in carrot fields, though they can be a nuisance. Burrows of animals including rabbits, ground squirrels, and gophers can prove problematic during planting. Mechanical traps are generally a good solution to this issue.
- Additional damage can be done, mainly to plant tops, by rats, deer, coyote, feral hogs, and starlings.
Consideration for Climate Change
Climate change and weather are having and will continue to have an impact on carrot production both domestically and globally, though the exact nature of these impacts in any specific region are difficult to accurately predict. In general, carrots are a cool season crop, and soil water content and air temperature can have significant impacts on the quality and quantity of the annual crop. Significant regional shifts in temperatures and irrigation water availability are likely to have major impacts on the future of the carrot industry around the world.
- Shifting Temperatures and Growing Regions. Carrots thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 70°F, though can tolerate cooler conditions. Warmer year round temperatures, and higher peak temperatures even for a short period of time, can induce heat stress and cause carrots to develop a woody texture (among other physiological effects), leading to reduced yield and quality. Further, the year-round nature of the current carrot season in Southern deserts may be fundamentally altered as average temperatures during certain seasons rise beyond what carrots can withstand. This may cause carrot production to shift northward, though finding similar loamy or sandy soils may be difficult. As temperature patterns evolve, growers will need to adjust their management practices, including irrigation schedules and variety selection, and growers in today’s major growing regions (i.e. California and Arizona in the U.S.) should prepare for greater competition from new geographies going forward. Changes in temperature, water stress, and even CO2 levels can also affect plant physiology and mineral uptake, likely creating additional challenges for growers in the future.
- Water Scarcity. Changes in precipitation patterns triggered by climate change will likely put pressure on some current carrot growing regions, due to changing demand for, cost of, and overall access to irrigation water. While some regions are likely to experience more frequent and severe droughts, others are likely to deal with flooding and extreme wetness, both of which pose significant risks to carrot production. Carrots need soils to be kept consistently moist throughout germination to prevent forking, and water-logged soils can also cause increased disease incidence and physiological damage to growing carrots. Improved water management practices, such as water conservation measures are likely to remain top of mind for growers alongside demand for more financial risk mitigation tools like specialized insurance policies.
- Soil Health. The most important environmental determinant of a high quality carrot crop is planting in healthy, light, sandy or loam-sandy soils. These soil types are also the most vulnerable to soil erosion and nutrient depletion under extreme weather conditions, which will become increasingly likely (and unpredictable) as climate change advances. As more surface and ground irrigation water is used, soil salinity is also likely to rise, a variable to which carrots are particularly sensitive. Going forward, the ability of carrot growers to nurture the soil health in their operations will be particularly important.
- Extreme Weather. From heatwaves to floods to high winds, increasing instances of extreme weather is likely to have an impact on carrot production. Extreme weather affects fields in many ways, from damaging plants to altering patterns of pest predation. In general, however, extreme weather increases risk to the yield and quality of the crop. Though preventing impacts from all extreme weather is impossible, growers will likely be increasingly interested in tools that allow them to mitigate risks related to these events.
- Pest and Disease. Climate change will likely influence the distribution and abundance of pests and diseases that affect carrots. Likely changes in temperature and humidity levels will not only lead to more substantial populations of damaging pests and disease, but may also alter the time of year when they emerge or die-off, which can in turn affect the tools available to growers to control them. Growers will need to adapt their pest management strategies and be vigilant for emerging threats.
Key Pressures on Carrot Growers
Carrot growers face many pressures that are common to carrot growers in other states and regions and to other root vegetable and row crop growers the world over. The carrot sector is constantly advancing, both in terms of carrot production and economics, through activities like plant breeding, crop protection research, and advancing climate smart agriculture on the one hand, and activities like improving marketability, supply chain efficiency, and exploring new and emerging consumer demands and opportunities on the other. A few key pressures for carrot growers, in particular in California, stand out.
Costs are on the rise for nearly every input to carrot farming, from land costs to labor, fertilizer to equipment. Crop prices do not necessarily reflect that steadily increasing cost of production that growers face, and so savvy farmers look for ways to reduce the costs of inputs whenever possible.
Direct costs and accumulating risks around food safety are paramount for fresh produce growers like carrot farmers. The fast-evolving food safety regulatory landscape in California in particular has meant farmers have had to work hard to stay on top of compliance and related costs.
Additionally, growing consumer skepticism and regulation around the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides have motivated farmers to pursue alternative practices that limit these inputs, which can also lead to increased costs.
Labor has become the focus of interest in reducing costs on carrot farms, especially as costs (both direct and indirect) related to labor continue to rise and growers see increasingly viable solutions to reducing the number of people employed in the field. Increasing labor shortages have added to this incentive.
Currently, commercial carrot harvesting (beyond bunched carrots) is usually carried by fully mechanical, though not autonomous, equipment. These tools have drastically reduced the amount of labor required during the carrot harvest on most commercial operations, both in the field and on the packing line. Planting is also a significantly mechanized activity.
However, other tasks on the carrot farm— including bed shaping, weeding, and irrigation are also targets for advancing mechanization and automation, though there already are some autonomous tools available for tasks like chemical application, mowing, and disking (from companies like Monarch Tractor, Blue White Robotics, InsightTRAC, and FieldIn).
Technologists designing for key issues in this field should consider unique features of the industry.
- All automation or mechanization tools will likely require long battery lives, sturdy, rugged construction, and other reliability refinements to deal with sandy field conditions and being used around the clock to travel relatively long distances.
- In most cases, farmers rely on mechanics on-site and do not have access to electronic/robotic engineers.
- High-speed internet and high-bandwidth cellular services are not a given in rural areas.
- Field factors including bed size, row, and planting spacing will vary, based on (among other things); variety, cultural practices, climate, and preferred management practices. The amount of space between beds and rows will have a significant impact on equipment access.
- Predictive analytics that help farmers determine and plan for harvest as far in advance as possible are also extremely useful for controlling labor costs and improving labor efficiencies. Developing systems may be well-positioned to be adapted to this market.
- Harvest tools for carrot growers generally fall into two categories; tools pull, cut, and move carrots (available), and tools that assist in hand harvesting for bunch carrots (some currently available).
- Given the small number of acres (relative to total carrot acres) that are hand harvested, there has been relatively little innovation focus in that area.
- More attention has been paid to the relatively easier challenge of increasing worker efficiency by carrying harvested bunches more directly to the area where the produce will be handled and stored without human intervention. Examples of these kinds of harvest-aids include offerings from companies like Burro.
- Weed elimination technologies are on the rise, though few are currently making strides in the row crop vegetable space. However, the advances seen with tools like John Deere’s See and Spray technology seem likely to translate into carrot production sometime in the future.
- Machine vision will likely be a critical component of these types of innovations, which could also extend into crop protection spraying of other pests at the in-field level, and may even facilitate non-chemical pest management practices in the future.
The availability of water is a top concern among most California farmers, especially in water-constrained regions in the southern deserts. Efficient production, and therefore profitability, often comes down to the benefits and costs related to water.
In recent decades, California has suffered a number of significant droughts, many of which have lasted for multiple years. These have led to limitations on surface water access, even for those with the most senior water rights.
Growers have increasingly turned to ground water pumping, though increasingly, issues with land subsidence (the physical sinking of the land due to absence of sub-surface water) and the undermining of other private and municipal wells have led to greater scrutiny and regulation on the use of ground water for agriculture in the state.
Finally, high levels of irrigation can lead to additional challenges, like the build-up of salts in the soil. This can degrade the quality of soils and, when it becomes extreme, can prove toxic to plants and cause yield reductions.
Growers increasingly rely on advanced software and hardware tools to precisely manage their irrigation water.
Advanced irrigation systems that bring together the advantages of drip irrigation and similar water-saving delivery methods with soil moisture sensors have helped growers reduce their water usage and avoid some of the challenges inherent in applying large amounts of irrigation water. Additionally, data from remote sensors (drones, satellites, etc.) have been added to more local data from sensors to create advanced irrigation planning and forecast tools so that growers can determine, often days in advance, exactly how much water a given field will need— creating greater opportunity for growers to carefully plan an efficient irrigation schedule.
Technologists are looking to further advance irrigation technology with the adoption of control technologies, which allow growers and irrigators to control pumps and valves on irrigation systems remotely. By doing this (rather than having an employee manually turning valves, checking water pressure, etc.) new possibilities are opened up around how irrigation can occur, especially with respect to frequency.
The farther future of control systems opens the door to autonomous irrigation, where at some point, highly refined sensors will be able to communicate directly with control technologies, so that a field or even an individual plant, could receive water exactly when they need it without direct human intervention.
Increasing the water efficiency of plants themselves, both through novel breeding and through genetic manipulation, are also potential solutions going forward.
Additional Resources
- USDA National Retail Report - Specialty Crops (latest)
- USDA Vegetables 2023 Summary
- Understanding Carrot Populations - Bayer Vegetables
- Commercial Production and Management of Carrots - University of Georgia Extension
- A Pest Management Strategic Plan for Fresh Carrot Production in California
- USDA’s Vegetables and Pulses Outlook: December 2023 (latest)
- Carrot Production in California - UC Vegetable Research & Information Center
- Nitrogen and Irrigation Management for Carrot Production in Desert Region - California Department of Food and Agriculture
- Factors Influencing Carrot Size and Shape - Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Research
- University of California Cooperative Extension: Vegetable Research and Information Center - Carrots
- Postharvest Handling for Carrots - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (AU)