Veggie Fact of the Day

New Veggie #66

Green Cauliflower is one of 4 different colors of Cauliflower that can be found in grocery stores across the US. It is a hybrid, made my cross-pollination of Broccoli with white cauliflower. So, in essence, it is a GMO crop .. just as every naturally cross-pollinated cultivar of edible fruits and vegetables. It was first developed in the Salinas Valley, right here in the US, by hand cross-pollination and first brought to the market in 1988 under the trademarked name Broccoflower. There are 2 forms of green cauliflower, both referred to as Broccoflower - one that looks just like its white cousin, just green in color and another rather interesting looking variety that has a spiky appearance. The internal color, when cut, resembles Broccoli for both varieties. Green cauliflower, like its cousins, is highly nutritious. One cup provides only 20 calories, nearly 2 g of protein, 4 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of fiber and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Green cauliflower is higher in protein, at 2.95%, than either white cauliflower, 1.92%, or broccoli, 2.82%.

Green cauliflower looks a lot like its white, orange or purple cousins. The plant is made up of tightly packed clusters of lime green florets, known as the "curd", that form from a single stalk, which produces green leaves that hug the base of the curd. Various sources on the internet indicate that the green version is sweeter, milder and nuttier, than the white cauliflower - I didn't detect any differences.