International Carrot Day | Orange is the New Carrot

Today, we celebrate one of America's most loved vegetables. It's a favorite food of rabbits, amazing for the eyesight, and the foundation of what is easily one of the greatest cakes ever conceived! Amaze your friends with your knowledge of trivia and use the hashtag #InternationalCarrotDay on your social media posts.

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When people think of a carrot, it’s doubtless that the mind is immediately brought to the bright orange root with the green foliage. The same one that is often found sticking out of the face of a snowman during winter.

The first annual celebration of this vibrant root occurred in the year 2003 with the pure intention of celebrating the staple salad ingredient. As of now, celebrations have been reported to occur in France, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Australia, Japan, and the U.K. It seems that carrots are a rather hearty plant that can grow in many diverse conditions, though they typically come into harvest in the summer and fall seasons of their growth sites.

California is responsible for 85% of the carrots that U.S. citizens purchase in grocery stores across the country. While the taproot is traditionally the star of the culinary show, carrot greens — the part that grows out of the soil and toward the sun — are equally edible. Many countries use this portion of the plant to mix in with their salad greens.

Carrots are among the few vegetables that are harvested primarily for their roots, rather than their sprouts. Joining them are potatoes, turnips, radishes, and beets. The traditional carrot’s hue is a deep orange with yellow undertones, but there are many different variations in color harvested worldwide, including purple, red, and pale yellow iterations. Orange is the new carrot.

Due to the carrot’s longevity when stored in the refrigerator, it often makes appearances in dishes for all seasons, from spring to autumn to winter. Carrots are also among the vegetables that can be eaten raw and fresh, with only a little scrub under cool water as preparation. When raw, the crunch of a carrot can be heard from many feet away. Carrots can be served as a sweet treat in carrot cake, or as a savory accompaniment to meats such as salmon and chicken.

Carrots are a fridge staple:
When it comes to finding enthusiasm in the kitchen, we can often overlook the simple staples that have carried us through a lifetime. International Carrot Day reminds us about this ubiquitous and universally loved vegetable that is likely in each of our refrigerator drawers.

Beta-carotene strengthens our vision:
The primary vitamin in carrots is beta-carotene, which transforms into vitamin A once processed through the human digestive system. Vitamin A is known for strengthening the eyes as well as the bones, teeth, and skin.

Money isn’t an issue:
Carrots are among the cheapest vegetables available for purchase in the U.S. They make clean-eating more accessible to citizens of all socioeconomic backgrounds, which means no one is excluded from celebrating along with us!

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.

00:00 Intro
00:09 What is International Carrot Day?
00:29 Best Friends
00:54 California
01:16 Did you know?
01:52 Nay-sayer Puppy
02:12 Happy International Carrot Day

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