Millions of kids spent the first few years of their lives saying “Yuck” to broccoli. Pres. George Bush Sr. didn’t like it either. But most of us grow up to find it quite tasty. And over the last few years, we’ve come to realize just what a nutritional powerhouse this flowery veggie is — along with its close cousins Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. Their known as cruciferous vegetables, because they flower in the shape of a cross. But these days you could just substitute the word cruciferous with “super amazingly healthy.”
The crucifers have traditionally been West Coast crops, but over the last few years new varieties have been developed that can be grown almost anywhere. They’re also some of the weirdest looking things you’ve ever seen coming out of the ground.
In winter, the area around Palatka, FL is the crucifer capital of the U.S. We visited L&M Farms and Smith’s Farm to find out more about how these tasty health helpers grow and are harvested.
