Plant Breeder John Navazio and his colleagues developed this variety from one of Chinese origin. It dwells below the soil with the Fucanglong Dragon, the dragon of the underworld and hidden treasures—an apt companion for this carrot, as its purple skin hides a bright orange and gold interior with a terrific, sweet-and-carroty flavor. Delight in the aesthetics of this variety, and rejoice in the work of small-scale and public-interest plant breeders: the true hidden treasures of organic agriculture.
The Package Each year, Hudson Valley Seeds commissions contemporary artists from around the United States to tell the story of a particular seed variety. That art and those seeds combine to create an Art Pack, a unique celebration of the diverse stories of seeds and their stewards.
The Artist Artwork by JiaJia Hamner. JiaJia's work, made with ink and watercolor on paper, depicts the magical beings of the underworld. She has also included the chemical symbol for anthocyanin, the compound responsible for this carrot's deep purple hue.
