This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
The carrot is a plant with a root that is eaten as a vegetable.Carrots are grown throughout the world. When people think aboutcarrots, they create a mental picture of a long, thin,orange-colored vegetable. Yet carrots come in many different sizes,shapes and colors.
This summer, food stores inBritain will have a new product: purple-colored carrots. However,purple carrots are not really new. Reports say the carrot is simplyreturning to its true color.
The history of the carrot dates back thousands of years. Purplecarrots are native to the Middle East and the area that is nowAfghanistan. There are reports that pictures made in Egyptfour-thousand years ago show a plant believed to be a purple carrot.
People in ancient Greece and Rome grew carrots that had thin,hard roots. They used the plants as a medicine, not as a food.Carrots similar to modern ones were common in Europe by thethirteenth century. They were several different colors.
It was not until about four-hundred years ago that carrots becameorange. That is when farmers in The Netherlands produced orangecarrots from yellow and red ones in honor of their national color.
Carrots are easy to grow and harvest. They grow best in deep,rich soil that contains sand or soft, wet dirt. A crop takes aboutone-hundred days to grow.
Carrots have a pleasing taste. People eat uncooked carrots aloneor with other vegetables. Cooked carrots also are popular.Orangecarrots contain carotene, a substance used by the human body toproduce Vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for healthy skin and eyes.Carrots also contain other vitamins and are rich in sugar and theelement potassium.
Farmers in eastern England are growing the new purple-coloredcarrots. They call their crop Purple Haze. The vegetables are purpleon the outside and orange in the inside. The carrots containanthocyanin (an-tho-S(EYE)-ah-nihn), a substance believed toincrease protection against cancer.
Food store officials in Britain say they hope children will eatmore of the brightly colored carrots. They say the new product willcost a little more than other carrots.
Reports say carrot buyers in Britain soon will have other colorsto choose from, including yellow, red, and even black and white.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.