The UK buys nearly twice as many bunched carrots during the Easter period than at any other time of the year, according to figures from Produce World Group, the UK’s largest grower and supplier of fresh vegetables.
Produce World, which each year grows and supplies 2.5 billion carrots across the UK, believes the authentic look and feel of bunched carrots – or maybe the advent of spring and the influence of the Easter Bunny – could be behind these huge increases in sales during Easter.
Figures from last year’s Easter show that the volumes of bunched carrots sold increased by 185.7 per cent. In addition, the amount of UK households purchasing bunched carrots during Easter increased by 150.3 per cent. The increase in sales was also noticeable during the 2012 and 2013 Easter periods, with big spikes in bunched carrot purchases taking place on the Saturday before Easter Sunday.
Frank Robinson, Commercial Director at Produce World Group, said: “It appears that the Easter Bunny is leaving behind more than just Chocolate eggs during Easter, with huge sales increases in bunched carrots. The authentic look and feel of bunched carrots and their natural sweetness makes it a very popular choice for UK households. The veg can be used to accompany the traditional Easter Sunday roast or even eaten raw, just like the Easter Bunny would!”
Produce World is expecting a similar increase in bunched carrot sales during this year’s Easter period and is working around the clock to meet this high consumer demand.
In other carrot-related news, a recent Organic Food Usage and Attitudes Research report revealed that carrots had the highest customer loyalty out of all the organic vegetable categories. Fifty-eight per cent of UK households that claim to buy organic vegetables buy at least one type of organic vegetable at least monthly.
Five facts about carrots
The wild ancestors of the carrot are likely to have come from Persia (regions of which are now Iran and Afghanistan)
Carrots can be traced back about 5,000 years through historical documents and paintings
The carrot is one of the ten most economically important vegetables crops in the world
Eaten raw or briefly cooked, carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A
The longest carrot ever recorded was nearly 17 feet long
