International Carrot Day

Now that International Carrot Day is coming into its fifteenth year, its time to celebrate the carrot in all its glory all over again!

This member of the parsley family has lots of interesting facts about it!  Did you know that the carrot was first grown for medicine, not food?   As early as the tenth century people were using the wild carrot to ease childbirth for women.

But there has been controversy over the well-known notion that carrots can improve your eyesight.  There are different types of carrot too.  We have the baby (or mini) carrot, the imperator, the Nantes and the Chantenay!  And we all know the popular Danvers carrot famously sported by Bugs Bunny!  But, what about Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit – with the release of the new film this year perhaps Peter will promote the trendy heritage carrots!!

But they have had a more serious role to play too.  During World War II pilots were told to eat carrots to improve their eyesight!  But there has been controversy over whether they really have the power to do this.  Because carrots contain beta carotine that the liver absorbs and turns into vitamin A – that is then absorbed by the retinas, some doctors believe that it can help.

So – become a carrot amabassador this April!   Why not host a carrot party?  Treat your guests to carrot-themed snacks, carrot juice and carrot shots!  And if they still have room, treat them to carrot cake afterwards!

And remember to tell your guests that must all come dressed in orange!  It can be a really bold orange dress or something much subtler, as long as they’re reflecting the carrot!

Although the founders of carrot day suggest that more long-running lovers of the day go all out and wear a tail-with green hat to represent the stock.

Since 2003 the day has been universally celebrated in countries like France, Sweden, Italy, Japan and Russia.

For more information about this great day go to the International Carrot Day website.