Keep Calm and Carrot On
It’s Carrot Season, Y’all!
We’ve always been fascinated by the stories behind the foods we grow. In this issue of the newsletter, we’re stepping off the beaten path to explore a colorful chapter in the history of our favorite root vegetable.
In the early 1900s, Britain relied on imports for more than two-thirds of its food. When World War II began, German U-boats targeted those supply ships, leaving the island nation vulnerable. As a result, agricultural production in the British countryside became a critical battleground. Farmers were mobilized through government policy and propaganda to boost homegrown food supplies, feed the population, and prevent domestic crisis.
Then came the Blitz. As the German Luftwaffe bombed British cities at night, the government ordered strict blackouts to make targets harder to see. Around the same time, the Royal Air Force began using a new radar technology that helped pilots locate enemy aircraft after dark.
Perhaps to keep this new technology under wraps, the British government credited pilots’ nighttime success to their diets rich in carrots, implying that the humble root vegetable had enhanced their night vision. At the same time, and with a surplus of carrots on their hands, the Ministry of Food encouraged citizens to eat more carrots to “see in the blackout.” Whether this pro-carrot propaganda was primarily strategic deception or simply practical food policy, its message has echoed for decades.
Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A - a nutrient essential for maintaining normal eyesight. People who are deficient in vitamin A can have difficulty seeing in low-light conditions, and for them, a diet richer in foods containing this vitamin or its precursors can make a real difference. However, carrots won’t grant superhuman night vision to those who already get enough vitamin A.
So, while wartime propaganda may have overstated things a bit, carrots (and other vitamin A-rich foods like kale, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squashes, and eggs) do support healthy vision. Furthermore, carrots also stand out in this chapter of their long history as a symbol of resilience, resourcefulness, and nourishment through difficult times.
As the weather cools and our fall harvest continues to unfold, we invite you to celebrate this colorful, humble, history-making root. As we roast them, grate them, or crunch them raw, we’re reminded that vision isn’t just about eyesight - it’s about staying focused on what sustains us.
