Which Country is the Largest Producer of Carrots in the World?

Largest Producer of Carrots: China is the world’s largest producer of carrots, growing approximately 18.7 million tonnes annually. With vast agricultural land, modern farming methods, and high domestic demand, China dominates the global carrot industry. Keep reading more about carrots. 

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Which Country is the Largest Producer of Carrots in the World?

China is the largest producer of carrots in the world, accounting for more than 44% of total global production. Major carrot-producing provinces include Shandong, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia. Chinese farmers grow both fresh market and processing varieties to meet local and international demand.

How Much Carrot Does China Produce?

China produces approximately 18.7 million metric tonnes of carrots every year, mainly for consumption in meals and soups or for carrot juice. China also exports carrots to neighbouring Asian countries and Middle Eastern countries. Commercial farms in China use advanced irrigation and high-yield seeds and employ modern harvesting methods.

Top 5 Carrot-Producing Countries in the World

Source: FAO, World Population Review, 2023–2024 data

1. China

China leads the world in carrot production, producing approximately 18.7 million tonnes per year. The carrot industry in China is highly organised, and farms use modern farming technologies. Carrots from China are sold fresh, juiced, canned, or frozen. 

2. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is the second largest producer of carrots, producing approximately 3.9 million tonnes annually. Carrots are an important crop in Central Asia and farmers have the benefit of rich soils and support from the government for farming programmes.

3. United States

The United States produces about 1.4 million tonnes of carrots per year, mainly in California. The United States is well known for baby carrots as well as fresh packaged snacks that are sold throughout North America, the Caribbean and Asia.

4. Russia

Russia produces approximately 1.4 million tonnes of carrots each year. Carrots are a common staple in Russian kitchens and are produced throughout the country, but most in east-central and southern Russia are stored in large amounts during the winter.

5. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom produces just under 890,000 tonnes of carrots per year, and are primarily grown in sandy soils, such as those in Norfolk and Nottinghamshire. They are an important part of the national diet and the retail market for vegetables.

Carrot Production Around the World

Countries like Poland, France, Germany and Turkey have sizable carrot production in which carrots are primarily produced for domestic utilisation or regional exports. These countries can sometimes produce different varieties or speciality crops, or organic carrots. 

Interesting Facts About Carrot Production

1. Carrots Were Not Always Orange

Carrots were originally purple, yellow and white. The orange carrot as we know it was developed in the 1600s in the Netherlands. 

2. Baby Carrots Are Cut By Machines

The majority of baby carrots are not grown small; instead, they are large carrots that are cut and shaped into baby carrots in a factory to minimise waste and increase convenience. 

3. Cold Weather Conditions Make for Sweeter Carrots

Carrots are sweeter in colder climates because they convert starch to sugar for survival when frost occurs. Winter-harvested carrots are especially sweet. 

4. Carrots Have A Lot Of Vitamin A in Them

Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, a provitamin of vitamin A that helps with vision, immunity, skin health, etc. 

5. Carrot Farming Provides Thousands of Jobs

The growing, planting, harvesting, packaging and transporting responsibilities in carrot farming generate jobs, especially in rural areas all over the world! 

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