Carrots caught on the net

Home-grown carrots will soon have their own dedicated website, with the launch of www.british carrots.co.uk.

The site was created to provide a definitive source of information on carrots, and aims to answer any questions consumers may have about the vegetable.

It includes information on a variety of topics, including the history of the carrots how to properly prepare and cook them, and information their health benefits, among other things.

Martin Evans, chairman of BCGA said: “Through the website, the industry for the first time has a vehicle through which it can speak directly to the consumer.

“There is a news section where topical stories on carrots can run, allowing carrot growers to keep consumers up to date with the latest happenings in the sector.

“The site is aimed at anyone who is interested in finding out about carrots, from the keen cook looking for a new recipe idea, to the school child researching a project - there is something on the site for everyone.”

The site will also include quirky facts such as how many football pitches full of carrots we consume in the UK each year - around 18,000 apparently - and the fact that scientists have estimated carrots will be the new fuel of the future, with 6,000 carrots needed per car mile.

Encouraging consumers to be more creative with the vegetable, there is also a range of carrot recipes specially created by celebrity chef Rachel Green.

The BCGA said it hopes the website will generate and revitalise interest in carrots among consumers of all ages, and encourage greater frequency of purchase in UK households.

“TNS data shows that the majority of households do buy carrots at some stage each year but the BCGA’s pr campaign - of which the new website is one element - aims to encourage consumers to put carrots in their shopping baskets more often,” Evans added.

Continuing the promotion, British carrots will for the first time be out in force at the BBC Good Food Show in November this year.