Carrot production in WA in 1989 was 31,000 tonnes, of which 17,500 tonnes were exported, mostly to south-eastern Asia. There, WA has a reputation for supplying carrots of a high quality. The appearance of our carrots – straight and smooth skinned – is largely a result of crops being exclusively grown on sandy soils on the coastal plain between Bunbury and Guilderton. The Mediterranean climate with a maritime influence in this area makes carrot growing possible for 12 months of the year, allowing efficient use of machinery, land and water. The sandy soils, while giving good root quality, present special problems in nutrition and irrigation management.