Agricultural Information:

Plant Family: Brassicaceae
Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. italica

Broccoli is a cool-season vegetable in the same family as cabbages, originally cultivated in the Mediterranean region. The plant is an annual and produces a thick central stalk topped with tight clusters of edible green flower buds. It is typically harvested before the buds open into yellow flowers which would then produce seeds. Broccoli is commonly eaten steamed, roasted, stir-fried, or raw, and is valued for its high levels of vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants.