Caroots – San Vito Carrot Festival

Caroots: The carrot takes center stage in Polignano a Mare

Caroots is the event that celebrates the San Vito Carrot, the most iconic vegetable of Polignano a Mare, in the province of Bari, in the heart of Puglia. The event takes place in the picturesque village of San Vito, a coastal hamlet clustered around an ancient Benedictine abbey, transforming its streets into a journey of taste, culture, and community.

The San Vito Carrot: A Slow Food Presidium

The absolute star is the San Vito Carrot, grown for generations in the sandy soils near the Adriatic Sea. Recognized as a Slow Food Presidium, it is distinguished by its variety of colors—yellow, purple, white, and orange—and its sweet, intense flavor, making it a beloved ingredient in local peasant tradition. Caroots was created specifically to promote this excellence and the agricultural roots of the Polignano area, sharing its history and culinary uses.

A weekend of flavors and activities

The festival features street food and tastings with carrot-inspired dishes, show cooking, and workshops where experts and enthusiasts share recipes and secrets, alongside Slow Food conferences dedicated to the Presidium. There are also guided tours organized by the Pro Loco, musical performances, markets, and family activities. Among the most popular curiosities is a special carrot gelato created by local ice cream parlors. The event also focuses on environmental stewardship, with ecological beach cleaning initiatives.

An event built to grow

Organized by the AIP – Association of Polignano Entrepreneurs in collaboration with the Hoteliers' Association, the UCP, the restaurant association, and Confartigianato, with the patronage of Puglia Promozione, the first edition in 2025 attracted over 30,000 visitors. This success has encouraged the organizers and the Municipality of Polignano a Mare to establish Caroots as a fixed appointment on the Apulian spring calendar, successfully blending agri-food promotion, tourism, and local identity.