Read the passage from "Carrots with Character,” which is an informational text about the health benefits of genetically modified carrots. The researchers, led by plant geneticist Philipp Simon, haven't limited themselves to the color orange. They've selectively bred a rainbow of carrots—purple, red, yellow, even white. Scientists are learning that these plant pigments perform a range of protective duties in the human body—which is not surprising, says Simon, since many of the pigments serve to shield plant cells during photosynthesis. Red carrots derive their color mainly from lycopene, a type of carotene believed to guard against heart disease and some cancers. Yellow carrots accumulate xanthophylls, pigments similar to beta-carotene that support good eye health. Purple carrots possess an entirely different class of pigments—anthocyanins—which act as powerful antioxidants. While colored carrots are unusual, they're not exactly new. "Purple and yellow carrots were eaten more than 1,000 years ago in Afghanistan and 700 years ago in western Europe,” says Simon. "But the carrot­-breeding process has gone on intensively for just 50 years.” Simon and his team of ARS researchers and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) have recently shown that their highly pigmented carrots are a ready source of some sought-after nutrients.

Which statement best explains how the author’s use of evidence supports the text’s purpose?
A. The author explains that carrot-breeding has only been done for the past 50 years.
B. The author directly quotes research scientists who have been studying the carrots.
C. The author states that red, yellow, and purple carrots each provide specific health benefits.
D. The author writes that the use of differently colored carrots in diets dates back over 1,000 years.