Growing snack carrots is more challenging than regular conventional carrots. Snack carrot field beds are drilled with higher density than regular carrots in specially formed seedbeds. The reason for this is to get the carrots to press up on each other to help manage size.
At Frupor, located in southern Portugal by the Atlantic Ocean, the unique climatic conditions allow for availability of freshly harvested carrots year-round. The growing period varies slightly. Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, it is approximately 16 to 21 weeks.
Timing is critical to manage size. Too early they will be too small, if you wait too long, they will be too big. They are harvested mechanically by a carrot top lifter.
The carrots are then washed and graded and cooled.
Once cooled the carrots are polished using potable water. The polisher is a specially designed machine that scrubs the carrots removing small blemishes and reduces thickness of the skin. This does make the carrots more fragile, so maintaining temperature becomes even more important.
Then it is off to the pack house. Our carrots are hand packed in various size bags. Based on our experience, bags are the best way to maintain freshness.
Freshness and taste is what is most important. We always say we do not sell carrots we sell a fresh, crispy, sweet, healthy snack product that happens to be carrots. This is why we pack to customer order and do not have an inventory of product all in the name of freshness and taste.
Once packed and boxed it is back into the cooler and then shipped to our customers in temperature controlled trucks ready to eat.