There’s a reason why dangling a carrot in front of a horse is a classic motivation tool. Carrots are a tasty reward, an incentive.
For reluctant vegetable eaters, this isn’t a vegetable that’s eaten begrudgingly. (If it is, we’re sorry. Hopefully, it’s a phase.)
Horse and human, young and old, we dig that sweet crunch.
Carrots held steady for yet another year as the fourth most-purchased vegetable by shoppers, according to Fresh Trends 2022 survey data.
The popularity of carrots — 51% of shoppers bought carrots in the last year — could be attributed to the hardiness of the vegetable, its natural sweetness, relatively low price … and it’s a favorite with children.
And if you can get a kid to eat a vegetable, then, no doubt, you’ll buy that vegetable again and again.
The likelihood of a carrot purchase in a household with one child was 43%, the survey showed, rising three percentage points in households with two children and spiking seven percentage points for households with three or more children.
Carrots are a common vegetable at school nutrition programs for many of the same reasons, and children love what’s familiar, so it makes sense they’d like it at home, too.
They’re also great vehicles for dip, from ranch and hummus to black bean dip and tzatziki, that garlicky yogurt dip of Greek and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Make sure to cross-merchandise these dipping ideas on your displays in-store and online. Stock bags of whole, semi-prepared carrots, plus bags of peeled, washed baby carrots. Include bunches with the stems left on for that farm-fresh look, rainbow carrots for homecooks tempted by color, carrot sticks for snacking, medallions for stir frys and our favorite way to dip a carrot — carrot chips with ridges.
Don’t forget the trendiest ways to eat carrots, too: carrot noodles and carrot rice. Use all the diet and lifestyle trends to your advantage. Inject this idea into your health-conscious shopper’s mind: “Hey, carrots can sub in for white pasta and rice.” More sales!
Keep your carrots under the mister to avoid dryout, and use their vivid orange color to create color blocking between all the greens in the wet-veg rack.
In case you missed it: Read the May/June digital issue of PMG magazine.
