Wild carrots were originally purple or white, with thin, woody roots. The orange carrot we see today was largely popularized by Dutch growers in the 16th and 17th centuries. A popular theory suggests that Dutch farmers bred orange carrots as a tribute to William of Orange and the House of Orange during the Dutch struggle for independence. While orange mutants did exist naturally, the Dutch selected and stabilized these varieties because they were sweeter and fatter than their purple ancestors. Today, carrots are an essential source of beta-carotene, which the human body converts into Vitamin A. Interestingly, heirloom varieties in purple, yellow, and white have made a comeback in recent years. The color change is due to varying levels of anthocyanins (purple) versus carotenoids (orange).