I'm looking for the name of the king, which initiated the color change
of the carrot in Holland/The Nederlands. Here is the story - I know
BBConline mentioned a king - so has several other publications but no
one (as far as I can see) mentioned the kings name. I ONLY need the
name of the king (or in worst case scenario the name of the king when
this took place which I guess would be the same0 - as I have all other
data related to this story.
By the 1700s, Holland was considered the leading country in carrot
breeding and today's "modern" orange version is directly descended
from the Dutch-bred carrots of this time. In an attempt to
"nationalize" the country's favorite vegetable, growers began
experiments on improving the pale-yellow versions. These were crossed
with red varieties containing anthocyanin to produce orange-colored
roots. Successive hybridization intensified the widely recognized
"orange" color of today.

Good luck,

Martin

Hello Martin,

Orange carrots were supposedly developed in Holland as a tribute to
William of Orange (1533?84), also known as William the Silent.

sources:

"Purple, white and yellow carrots were imported to Europe in the 14th
century, but growers in Holland changed their colour in the 16th
century in support of William of Orange in his fight for Dutch
independence from Spain."
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_588831.html

"The Times of London reports that Sainsbury will begin selling purple
carrots this summer, marketing it as a variety that actually is
healthier than traditional orange carrots...
Beginning in the 14th century, carrots were purple, white and
yellow... but growers in Holland changed the color during the 16th
century during the Dutch fight for independence from Spain, in support
of William of Orange."
source:
Morningnewsbeat.com, May 16, 2002 
http://www.morningnewsbeat.com/archives/2002/05/16.html#MNB7

"'Now your article states that: "grower[s] in Holland changed the
color during the 16th century during the Dutch fight for independence
from Spain, in support of William of Orange."
...
'I think they are referring to William the Silent---or William I,
prince of Orange---who did lead the revolt against the Spanish, and
under the Union of Utrecht became the first king of what would become
Holland.'"
source:
Morningnewsbeat.com, May 17, 2002
http://www.morningnewsbeat.com/archives/2002/05/17.html#MNB11


More about the life of William the Silent, aka William of Orange, aka
William I Prince of Orange, from the Columbia Encyclopedia hosted by
bartleby.com:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/wm/WmSil.html

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search strategy:
holland, carrots, "changed the color", king
"william of orange", carrots

I hope this helps.

Well done!

Martin:
Thank you for the tip.
-juggler