Organic carrots are a huge part of the category, making up nearly one-third of overall carrot sales. Organic carrots are an easy entry point into the organic produce category for many consumers because their price so closely mirrors the price of conventional. Carrots’ popularity as a staple in most kitchens make them a great place to focus organic marketing promotions.
When selling bulk carrots, be sure to keep organic products separate from conventional, especially under the misters. Water from conventional carrots can contaminate organic product if it touches the organic carrots. Bagged carrots can be displayed next to their conventional counterparts as long as the two are separated. Organic carrots have a similar price point to conventional carrots, so consumers avoid price shock when they are displayed side by side with conventional product. Try displaying the carrots side by side and with organic carrots in an organic section to see which sells better.
Offer consumers different options on the same display. Include bulk carrots, bagged baby carrots and fresh-cut offerings, such as sticks or chips to appeal to all types of consumers.
Remember that cutting organic carrots in-store means they can’t be labeled organic unless your facility is a certified organic processing facility.
When displaying organic carrots, use their bright orange color as a color break between two green vegetables.
Market organic carrots with other organic items, such as carrot juice and dip. Use organic carrots as an opportunity to persuade consumers to try organics. Use back-to-school promotions to entice parents to buy organic carrots for their children’s lunch boxes.
Use organic carrots as a centerpiece for an organic salad promotion. Group organic salad items together and use discounts on organic carrots to encourage consumers to buy enough organic items to create an entire salad.
Create an organic juicing promotion with organic carrots as a centerpiece. Offer juicing equipment along with other juicing vegetables, such as organic beets and kale as part of the promotion.
Offer organic carrots as part of football game-day promotions and don’t forget to play them up around the Easter holiday as a tasty snack for the Easter bunny as well as for children.
Shipping
Organic carrots come in a variety of sizes. The most popular container sizes for organic baby carrots are cartons of 30, 1-pound bags or 15, 2-pound bags. Organic carrots with tops are most often shipped in 24-count cartons. Full-size organic carrots are most often shipped in 25-pound cartons, 48, 1-pound bags or 24 2-pound bags. Shredded organic carrots are available in 12 10-ounce bags, and yellow organic carrots are available in 25-pound cartons.
Grades
United States
U.S. extra No. 1
U.S. No. 1
U.S. No. 1 jumbo
U.S. No. 2
Handling
Temperature: 33 to 35 F, 0.6 to 1.7 C
Relative humidity: 98-100%
Mist: lightly
Typical shelf life: 28 to 180 days
Ethylene-sensitive. Do not store or transport with ethylene-producing products, which can give carrots a bitter flavor.
Odor-sensitive. Carrots will absorb odors from apples and pears.
Odor producer. Carrots produce odors that will be absorbed by celery.
When stacking containers in the back room, make sure to stack organic items at the top so residue from conventional produce doesn’t drip down onto the organic items.
Organic items can be stored side by side in the cooler as long as no product is touching and no residue can drip from the conventional onto the organic product.
Fresh-cut typical shelf life
Diced, sliced or shredded: 21 days
Julienne: 21 days
Sticks: 21 days
Whole peeled: 30 days
Most product is sold without tops, which draw moisture from the roots, because they store better.
Return unsold carrots to cold storage at the end of the day. This permits cleaning of the display and helps ensure proper rotation.
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