General Production Information

● Oregon ranks 8th nationally in producing carrots for processing. ● Oregon’s processed carrots represent 2.3 % of total U.S. production. ● In 1996, Oregon farmers grew over 350 acres of carrots. But the planted acreage varies greatly from year to year. In 1995, there were 1,400 acres of fresh market carrots and 780 of processing carrots; in 1993, Willamette Valley growers produced 800 acres and Columbia Basin farmers grew 700 acres of carrots (8). The value of fresh carrot production was $6,307,000 in 1998. This ranked them 40th for Oregon commodities. ● Western Oregon processed carrots cost farmers $679.17 per acre to grow; Eastern Oregon producers had costs of $1,342.44 per acre. ● Carrots for processing are canned or frozen as baby whole, sliced, or diced. Fresh market carrots are bunched, cello-packed, or "manufactured " into baby carrots. True baby carrots are difficult to produce, harvest, and handle. In the Pacific Northwest, most carrot acreage produces carrots for processing. Production Regions Western Oregon's Willamette Valley is home to the largest carrot growing areas. Lane County has the most acres, followed by Marion County. However, reportable acreages are found all over the state. Curry County on the coast and Deschutes County in Central Oregon exemplify the state's widely scattered growing regions (3)