Broccoli

Cultivation and production - Vegetable crops

Vegetable crops

Production

Broccoli is a variety of cabbage native to Sicily. It was selected by the Romans from wild cabbage. The Romans were very fond of it and it is widely used in Italian cuisine.

Broccoli has a firm central stalk that branches out into small bunches which, when in flower, are dotted with tiny yellow flowers. It is picked before the yellow flowers bloom.

The word "broccoli" is derived from the Latin bracchium meaning "branch", in reference to the vegetable's shape, which is reminiscent of miniature trees. Usually dark green to sage green in colour, broccoli can also be white or purple (purplish).