Broccoli Delivery or Pickup

Native to the Mediterranean, broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable in the same family as cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. It originated in Italy in the sixth century, where it was developed from wild cabbage. The name broccoli is derived from the Italian word "broccolo," which means "the flowering crest of a cabbage," and the Latin "brachium," which means arm, shoot, or branch.

Broccoli didn't make its way to England until the 1700s and wasn't widely popular in the United States until the 1920s. Today, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American eats 4 pounds of broccoli each year. Similar to other vegetables, broccoli is high in water and low in calories. It's also high in various nutrients, some of which include vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, fiber, and potassium. It also boasts more protein compared to many other vegetables. 

You can enjoy broccoli raw or cooked, but the way you prepare it can affect the number of nutrients you get and which ones. The following are the nutrition facts for 1 cup (91 grams) of raw broccoli:

Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, have sulfur-containing compounds that have numerous health benefits. Some of these benefits include the following:

Although broccoli is available year-round, it's at its peak season from October through April. Broccoli has three main types, and their differences are mainly based on when they're harvested. 

No matter what variety you select, you want to select ones with tight florets and firm stalks. The cut ends of the stalks should be fresh and appear healthy. The entire head should feel heavy in your hands and be odorless. You want to avoid broccoli with dried-out or brown stem ends as well as ones with yellowing florets.

Let Instacart help you with your broccoli selection. Fill your cart with broccoli, and an Instacart shopper will get started on your order. You can have your order to your house in as little as 2 hours!