Carrot is one of the most consumed vegetables in Brazil. However, the consumption of "baby carrots", obtained by minimally processed roots, is still very low in the country, due to lack of processing technology knowledge and the low amount of minimally processed carrots produced in Brazil as a consequence of the low industrial productivity. The carrot varieties currently employed in minimum processing have as major disadvantages a series of low quality attributes including inadequate root shape and size which precludes reaching the maximum industrial yield. In this context, Embrapa Hortaliças developed a new open pollinated carrot variety named "Esplanada", combining high adaptation to soil and climate conditions of Brazil, high resistance level to leaf blight and a moderate resistance level to root-knot nematodes and high quality roots with shape and size suitable for minimum processing. All these characteristics guarantee cultivation with almost no use of pesticides in the main carrot growing areas of Brazil. This new carrot variety has potential to occupy a strategic position in the carrot production chain, permitting the mini carrot production through minimum processing all year long in any carrot growing areas of the country.
Daucus carota; cultivar; baby-carrot; minimally processed
