Analysis of microscopy images provided insight into the mechanisms of textural changes, which included cell deformation related factors such as shape factor and elongation. Linear correlations between tissue hardness and the extent of cell wall breakage during cutting were observed. Textural changes of fresh carrot tissue due to high pressure processing were mainly associated with turgidity loss, a direct result of the applied hydraulic pressure. Changes in biochemical parameters (pectin methylesterase and degree of methylation) were limited and did not highly contribute to texture change at the studied conditions.