Call for tighter carrot controls

Baldivis vegetable grower Sam Calameri has called for tighter controls on the West Australian carrot growing industry to minimise the amount of wastage created by unsuitable crops.

The businessman, who grows carrots and potatoes at Eighty Road’s Baldivis Market Gardens, said while the State’s carrot export market was strong, he would like to see more guidelines put in place to assist growers in growing carrots to the most desirable shape and size.

“There can be quality issues surrounding carrot growing,” he said.

“There have been guidelines put into place in the last couple of years to ensure potatoes are grown to the exact standard the consumer expects — the whole industry is consumer driven now.” But Mr Calameri said the carrot growing sector was “lacking” and it was necessary to carry out further research into growing the perfect specimen.

“The potato industry is very good because regulations put into place by the Potato Marketing Corporation means both growers and consumers have benefited,” he said.

“Regulations mean there has been more research into different varieties of potato and we are required to grow a certain percentage of each to meet demand.”

The experienced market gardener has been in Baldivis since 1974 and started out growing cauliflower and onions, carrots and potatoes.

But it soon became clear the former were not viable because of hot conditions and a poor export market.