Where Do Baby Carrots Come From?

Several months ago, I was in a lunch-time meeting where we got into the discussion of, "Where do baby carrots come from?" We were divided: half of the room said that they grow that way; the other half said that they were big carrots that were cut into the smaller sizes. I was on the bigger-carrots-cut-up side and today I decided to look for some websites that bolster my position, should the discussion ever come up again. Luckily for my less-agriculturally-astute coworkers, it appears that they're not the only ones in the world who are confused.

The Dole 5 a Day FAQ's answer this very question:

Where do baby carrots come from?

Baby carrots are cut from bigger carrots. A special variety of carrot
called “caropak carrots” are grown for mini-peeled carrots. Caropak carrots are
grown close together, which results in thinner, more tender carrots. After
harvesting, the carrots are washed in chlorinated water, just like our drinking
water, and cleaned to remove dirt and mud. They are then sorted to separate out
those that are too large or too small. The carrots selected to become
mini-peeled are then cut into 2" lengths and the skin is peeled. A final
polishing process rounds their corners. Then they are packaged in 1 ounce, 1/2
pound, 1 pound or 5 pound bags.

Dole 5 a Day also answers such questions as:
Are tomatoes fruits or vegetables?
Is it dangerous to drink grapefruit juice when taking medication?
What’s the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
Why do apples turn brown when cut? and
Why does my urine smell weird after I eat asparagus?