This post is sponsored by Bolthouse Farms and SHE Media.
If ya’ll remember from this post, I recently got the opportunity to travel out to California for a Bolthouse Farms Bakersfield visit and learn more about their carrot operation. When I think of Bolthouse Farms®, I mostly think of their smoothie/juice beverages (yum) and their salad dressings, so I loved being able to see a different side of their business (and their largest side!). Turns out, 80% of US carrots are grown in California; and the process of growing carrots is more intricate than you could ever imagine! Plus, I realized I’ve been buying Bolthouse Farms® carrots all along right here in Ohio and never even realized it!
Our Bolthouse Farms Bakersfield Visit
When we first arrived for our Bolthouse Farms Bakersfield visit, it was amazing to see their giant carrot harvester and meet some of the Farmers who work the carrot operation daily. Bolthouse Farms® has been around since 1915 and one thing is for sure: Once you come, you never leave. SO many of the individuals we met grew up with their parents and grandparents working for Bolthouse Farms® only to find themselves working for the company years later and I personally always think that speaks volumes about a company when people come and never leave.
Bolthouse Farms Carrot Picking and Packaging Process
Once we’d pulled some carrot ourselves, we headed to the factory to see how “baby” carrots are prepped and packaged; and how juices, etc. are bottled and delivered to your stores. It’s amazing what technology can do! Everything from slicing the carrots into perfect 2-inch pieces to polish and shine them for baby carrot bags. As well as with R&D and helping make sure Bolthouse Farms upholds its commitment of using fewer ingredients that people don’t want. Along with more of the ones they do. Many of the products have no artificial flavors or preservatives; and one of my favorite takeaways from the trip is that there is essentially no waste when it comes to the carrots. Even the peelings get turned into fiber. Which then gets added to other foods and more. I think we could all be a little more like Bolthouse Farms® in that regard. We tasted the carrots right out of the ground, and the Bolthouse Farms® carrot juice and they were so similar, I think it speaks volumes about their processes.
Overall, our Bolthouse Farms Bakersfield visit was such a unique experience and one I am so glad to have had. It was so interesting getting to visit the farm and hear all about these root vegetables. Now I have a new appreciation for them! Eat your carrots y’all. They are so good for you. Plus it’s easy to support a great company like Bolthouse Farms® that has so much experience under their belts with this powerhouse vegetable. Which is why they’ve been around since 1915. Or maybe it’s the delicious carrot ice cream that keeps the employees so happy? I wish I had some right now.
And for today, I’m trading my coffee for carrot juice. Thanks as always for reading and to Bolthouse Farms® for having me!
Have you ever purchased anything from Bolthouse Farms? Share in a comment below!
