Brazilian carrot production is around 750,000 tons per year. About 10% of this total is composed of thin roots graded as 1A type. Depending on the production system, planting date, and growing region, the percentage of 1A roots can reach about 20% of the total production. These 1A roots are cheaper than other grades, especially in the winter season, when the excess of production has been observed in certain growing areas of the country. Aiming to add commercial value to these 1A roots, the Embrapa Hortaliças has developed equipment that is an adaptation of a potato peeler machine. This equipment allowed the development of a minimum processing technology for obtaining mini-carrots named as `cenourete' (a processing item similar to the American baby-carrot) and `catetinho' (a ball-shaped mini-carrot). Both products are visually attractive to consumers, ready to eat either in natura (as a healthy snake) or cooked. The basic procedure to obtain these two products is to burnish cylindrical root segments by rubbing them against an abrasive surface until either an elliptical or spherical shape can be obtained. After this initial processing phase, a finishing procedure is carried out in order to polish the external surface of the root segment. Finally the product is sanitized and packed preferentially under vacuum conditions. There is great expectation about increasing the per capita consumption of healthy processing items especially among children and workers who work outdoors. These two items are expected to supply part of this demand in Brazil.
Daucus carota; minimum processing; mini-carrot
