The orange-colored carrot was developed by Dutch farmers in the 16th and 17th centuries in the Netherlands. Originally, carrots came in a variety of colors including purple, yellow, red, and white. The Dutch selectively bred these colors, particularly the yellow varieties, to create a sweeter, thicker, and more palatable orange carrot. This was driven partly by the natural sweetness associated with the beta-carotene pigment which gives the carrot its distinctive orange color. There is a popular folk story that orange carrots were bred as a tribute to the House of Orange, the Dutch royal family, which became prominent in the mid-1500s. However, historical evidence suggests this patriotic reason is less likely, and the orange carrot was primarily developed through agricultural selection for taste and yield. The orange carrot became dominant in Europe and spread worldwide, replacing other colored varieties in many markets due to its improved flavor and agricultural qualities. DNA studies trace modern orange carrots back to the town of Hoorn in the Netherlands. In summary, the Netherlands is credited with developing the modern orange carrot through selective breeding , with the story often linked to the House of Orange but more grounded in agricultural innovation and taste preference.