Interesting Facts About Carrots Part I

Interesting Facts About Carrots Part I

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1. Over 3000 years ago in Asia, carrots were first used for medicine.  These carrots were very different from the carrots we see now - they were purple and yellow!  It wasn’t until 900 BC when carrots were first grown for food in Afghanistan. Purple and yellow carrots didn’t make their way to Western Europe until the 1300’s.

2.  The orange carrot was developed in Holland as a tribute to William of Orange during the Dutch fight for independence.  However, its popularity was likely due to the fact that the new orange carrot was less bitter than the purple and red varieties.

3. To achieve a perfect orange color, carrots should be grown between 60-75°F weather.

4. Carrots are a type of root vegetable - meaning the edible portion of the plant is grown underground.

5. Carrots are related to celery, dill, fennel, parsley, and parsnip.

6. The flower called Queen Anne’s Lace is actually a wild carrot.

7. European ladies would wear lacy carrot flowers in their hair in the 15th century.

8. After the United States, China is the biggest producer of carrots.

9. Half a cup of carrots provides more than one day’s worth of vitamin A.

10. Raw carrots can be eaten plain as a snack or an appetizer, and sliced, chopped, or grated to add to salads. 

11. Slice carrots into carrot sticks and dip in low-fat dressing or other low-fat dip.

12. Carrots can be cooked using many different methods, such as boiling, steaming, roasting, or grilling, and can be eaten as a side dish on their own or cooked with other vegetables.

13. Carrots are the second most popular vegetable in the world after potatoes.

14. Carrots were first grown as a medicine, not for food! 

15. The first carrots were purple and yellow.