Once carrots are pulled from the ground, we wave them off to be processed. Firstly, they’re washed a number of times with clean cold water to remove grit and small stones. Then they’re put into the fabulously named Optical Grader. Here, four cameras and some far too complex and clever technology for our brains to get round, detects which carrots are below par and gives them a quick punt into touch with a blast of pressurised air.
Then, with a Led Zeppelin track in the background, the surviving veg takes the stairway to carrot heaven up to the VVF (vertical form fill) packing machine where they are sorted and put into bags of the appropriate weight. Finally, once in their packaging they are weighed by computer and visually checked for any defects before being put in the chiller ready for distribution nationwide. Finally it is put out on the shelf ready for you to buy.
Click on the slide show below to see this in action (accompaniments of Zeppelin lyrics and air guitar solos are entirely at your discretion):