Broccoli
Broccoli Production
Broccoli is a cool-season vegetable within the mustard family. This nutrient-demanding crop grows best with adequate soil moisture, cool temperatures, and sufficient nutrient availability.
Most commercially grown broccoli in California are cultivars of the Italian green type, although many farmers grow different varieties depending on region and planting date. Some popular varieties include Avenger, Green Magic, Heritage, Liberty, and Marathon among others.
California has four main broccoli production regions: the southern desert valleys (Imperial and Riverside Counties), the southern coast (Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties), the Central Coast (Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties), and the Central Valley (Fresno, Stanislaus, and Tulare Counties). Monterey County leads California with 40% of California’s broccoli acreage and production.