Good news for all carrot lovers
Australia is facing its biggest oversupply of carrots in 25 years.
The oversupply has encouraged farmers, chefs and winemakers to get creative in using the vegetable in different ways.
One solution is to use up excess and “wonky” carrots that are unsuitable for sale in carrot vodka.
Alice Forman and Gen Windley from Kalfresh, a Queensland carrot farm, collaborated with a winemaker to create carrot vodka which Alice described as “clean and refreshing”.
Restaurants are also supporting farmers by finding unique ways to incorporate carrot on their menus.
Rydges South Bank Brisbane executive assistant manager Dominic Rose believes that carrots are not a boring vegetable and can be used in various forms.
"We were in the process of changing the menu and just lightening it up for spring and we put a duck dish on there and it’s a duck ravioli but it’s got a consomme that goes with it,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“When you make it you put carrots through there as it gives you that nice amber colour."
“Then the dish sort of evolved and the chef that was in the restaurant was working with it and we ended up putting a carrot foam on there and grilled carrots as well.”
Spokesman for Australian vegetable industry body Ausveg, Jarrod Strauch, said farmers were facing tough decisions about what to do with their produce due to oversupply.
“In times of oversupply in the domestic market, export-ready growers can turn to these overseas markets as another way to sell their produce,” Mr Strauch said.
“We also participate in a range of initiatives that are looking to increase domestic demand for vegetables and help create a bigger market for Australian growers.”
Jarrod encouraged Australians to support local farmers and shop locally during this time.
“Buying local means you’ll be getting the highest quality fresh produce that money can buy, and it means you’re helping to support Australian farmers and workers, as well as regional communities, by ensuring our industry continues to grow.”
In October, Kalfresh will allow the public to pick carrots at the farm.
Director and farmer of Kalfresh, Rob Hinrichsen, said Aussie farmers have to decide whether to harvest the carrots and lose money or plough perfectly good carrots into the ground.
“Let’s turn a negative into a positive,” he said.
“We hate waste and we hate seeing the efforts of farming amount to nothing.
“We are saying to people – come and visit our farm, have a country experience, meet the farmers, sit in the tractors and pick your own carrots.
“We hope people who love their carrots will come and support us through what is a pretty dire situation.”