History & Origin:
While Aroostook County is well-known for potatoes, it is home to a variety of other crops as well. In an attempt to diversify crops, some growers have turned to cold crops and other vegetables. One of the biggest of these is broccoli. Maine is now the third largest broccoli producing state in the nation.

Broccoli has been around for over 2000 years although Americans have only been growing it for 200 years. The plant was first grown in France and Italy during the sixteenth century. It was first commercially grown and harvested in the United States in the 1920's in Brooklyn, New York. By 1925 the broccoli market had been established.

Growth & Harvest:

The broccoli season from seeding to first cutting generally lasts from 60 to over 100 days, depending on variety and growing area. Broccoli grows best in cool climate areas with moist soil. Over 90 percent of broccoli is grown in California but is also grown in our own county, Aroostook. Over 30,000 plants can be grown in one acre of land. The broccoli plant is a strong growing, upright annual, up to 3 feet in height, with large spreading leaves. The edible portion is the flower heads, cut when the buds are relatively small and green. The central head may be three to six inches across and rather flat, and is ready for harvest first. It is cut with six to eight inches of the thick, tender stem. Harvesting in Aroostook County can begin as early as August and usually runs through late fall. Many fields can be cut two or even three times because the plants continue to produce new growth throughout the growing season. Most broccoli is packaged in the field and shipped directly to market, but some is also cut and transported to processing facilities as well. The current annual commercial crop in the United States is 125,000 tons.

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last update August 12th, 1999