Sensory quality of carrots: Effect of harvest and storage time

This study aimed to determine how harvest and storage time influence the variation in the sensory attributes of carrots. Carrots harvested at different dates in September and October at an experimental site and on farms were analysed before and after storage. In general, delaying the harvest increased the sensory scores for juiciness, crispness, sweetness and overall flavour and decreased scores for bitterness, but the effects were not found in carrots from all locations. Frosts that injured carrots and resulted in a decline in sugar content in 1996 did not influence sensory quality. Storage had little effect on sensory quality, but juiciness and crispness frequently received lower gradings after storage. It is concluded that avoiding too early a harvest ensures the best sensory quality of carrots.