There are plentiful supplies of specialty carrots in California. Matt Hiltner of Babé Farms adds that the carrot quality looks strong as well and that supplies are pretty consistent, if not slightly up, over this time last year.
“Our two best sellers are the straight French pack and a mixed pack which includes multiple colors,” says Hiltner.
Babé Farms grows its baby bunched carrots in Santa Maria, California including its baby bunched orange or French carrots as well as baby bunched yellow, white, purple and pink carrots. It also has bunched round or Thumbelina carrots, though those supplies are more limited right now. “Our two best sellers are the straight French pack and a mixed pack which includes multiple colors,” says Hiltner. On top of that it has a hand-peeled carrot pack grown in South Baja which also has a mixed-colored or all-orange/French pack. “It is important for us to have plenty of options available to appeal to all types of restaurants and foodservice divisions.”
Pricing goes promotional
As for demand for carrots, it is good. “Prices came down a little bit last week,” says Hiltner, noting it’s partly promotional pricing, particularly with Easter ahead, and the ample supplies that have lowered prices. “It’s a big time for carrots in general so we’re coming into our good supplies at the right time.”
Showing off versatility of carrots in a single-ingredient farm-to-table dinner.
Indeed, along with Easter, yesterday was International Carrot Day so the vegetable is top of mind for spring. Hiltner said that Babé Farms (along with Edible magazine) recently got a chance to show off the vegetable’s versatility in a single-ingredient farm-to-table dinner at Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach. There, one local ingredient had to be incorporated into every course of the meal, including dessert. Hiltner says carrots came right to mind and the menu featured Kumamoto oyster with carrot orange ginger leche tigre, short rib with braised carrot and, of course, carrot cake with candied carrot and carrot sorbet.
For more information:
Matt Hiltner
Babé Farms, Inc.
Tel: +1 (805) 925-4144
[email protected]
www.babefarms.com