Broccoli is not a genetically modified or man-made vegetable. It is a naturally occurring plant that belongs to the same family as kale, cabbage, and cauliflower.
The cultivation of broccoli involves selective breeding to produce a plant with desirable traits, such as a large head of tightly clustered flower buds or florets.
Historians believe that the ancient Etruscans first cultivated wild cabbage over 2000 years ago. Farming in the Italian region now known as Tuscany, the Etruscans bred the earliest species of broccoli as well as other cruciferous vegetables.
Broccoli is not a GMO. Humans helped with matchmaking, but nature did all the growing and changing. No genome engineering occurred to develop this vegetable.
Broccoli has captured the hearts and taste buds of foodies everywhere. It is delicious, and broccoli is packed with essential nutrients like vitamins C and K, dietary fiber, and antioxidants that can benefit the heart.