Broccoli's Fascinating History Unearthed

 

The abundance of broccoli in the produce aisle proves its widespread popularity today. Its claim to vegetable fame is not only because of the nutrition it provides, like folates, iron, fiber, and many vitamins, but from the fascinating history of the broccoli plant. 

Broccoli Originates in Italy 

Broccoli’s history spans thousands of years. The broccoli plant was first thought to be cultivated in the Mediterranean region as early as the sixth century BCE, approximately 2,600 years ago. Around then, settlers in Italy domesticated wild cabbage, one of the broccoli origin plants. Over time, these farmers helped produce many vegetable variants, also called cultivars or hybrid plants, which are created through human intervention. One cultivar that stemmed from this process was broccoli.

Simply put, the broccoli vegetable’s origin stemmed from combining two variants of the cabbage through cross pollination.  

Broccoli is Introduced to Other Cultures

 

Italians ate the broccoli plant long before it spread to other parts of the world. Legend has it that because of its importance in ancient Rome, Drusus Caesar, son of Emperor Tiberius, ate broccoli and little else for a month. 

Broccoli’s world history sprouted further in 1533, when Caterina de’Medici, wife of Henry II, introduced the vegetable to the French court.  

Broccoli’s worldwide journey continued in the 1720s, when it made its way to England. However, the British didn’t take to the vegetable right away, because of opposition to broccoli’s smell while it cooked. 

Despite broccoli becoming more bountiful and popular in Europe, this wasn’t the case in America yet. This doesn’t mean documentation of broccoli’s cultivation didn’t exist, however. Thomas Jefferson recorded planting broccoli in the United States in the 1700s. Though not his main claim to fame, he was an avid gardener who grew broccoli and variations of it.

 

Unfortunately, the farming efforts of Jefferson and others in America growing broccoli, did not help the nutritious vegetable flourish there. This was partly attributed to the sulfur-like scent broccoli produced while cooking, and for another surprising reason. Because broccoli came from Italy, some did not like its association with Italian immigrants. 

 

However, around the 1920s, things changed. Two immigrants from Messina, Stephano and Andrea D’Arrigo, created the first broccoli plantation in San Jose, California, causing its popularity to soar. Their plantation, along with cooks creating mouthwatering broccoli cuisine wherever it grew, initiated its rapid spread across the United States. The D’Arrigo company, now called Andy Boy, still thrives today as a leading producer of broccoli in California.  

 

Bond, Broccoli Bond

Though the D’Arrigo plantation contributed greatly to broccoli’s popularity, another family may also have played a part. Giovanni Broccoli and his brother started a broccoli farm after emigrating to Long Island around 1900. Through her research, Giovanni’s wife Dana discovered that the vegetable was possibly named after their descendants in Italy. 

 

Oddly enough, the Broccoli family and the James Bond film franchise are strongly linked. Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, Giovanni’s son, worked on the Broccoli family farm as a teenager. He then went on to produce more than 12 Bond films. Journalist Dana Schwartz shed light on this story when she tweeted in 2022 about Cubby’s relatives being the true creators of modern broccoli. She cited a 1989 interview with Cubby,  where he stated that his ancestors in Carrera, Italy, first combined cauliflower and rabe to create modern broccoli. 

 

To summarize, multiple families and individuals contributed to broccoli’s popularity in the United States. 

 

Broccoli’s Modern Roots 

 

In the mid to late 1900s, the infestation of pests ruining broccoli crops caused certain farmers to use pesticides, something BeMicro is proud to abstain from. 

 

Today, China and India account for around 75% of the total global broccoli production followed by the United States, where California produces 92% of the broccoli plant out of all 50 states. Though its taste sometimes has a negative association, a survey by Diabetes UK concluded that broccoli is the United Kingdom’s favorite vegetable. More great news is that today, Americans consume 900% more broccoli than 20 years ago!

 

With your newfound knowledge of broccoli’s history, you can feel even better about reaping the cruciferous cultivar’s nutritional benefits, particularly in the naturally concentrated form of broccoli microgreens! However you choose to eat the broccoli vegetable, you are eating something with a long history and surely a long future. Be proud of yourself for learning fun facts of the nutritious and delicious broccoli’s history! 

 

The easiest way to get more broccoli in your diet is with freeze-dried broccoli microgreens. They are light in taste with over a 1-year shelf life. Two teaspoons equals two cups of leafy green vegetables. 

Order your broccoli microgreens here.