broccoli
a variation of cabbage
SCHWANS!!
Schwan's is a delivery service that delivers frozen food from a refrigerated truck to their client's homes. I've never seen the truck traveling through Albuquerque before, but I'm originally from Phoenix and quite familiar with Schwan's. My brother and I used to get so excited when the truck would stop by our house once a week. My mom would let us look at the catalog and choose one thing each. We never picked actual wholesome food, just ice cream. But my mom ordered these delicious guys right here ---->
When I interviewed my brother about his favorite childhood meal he reminded me of these broccoli stuffed chicken breasts. After really thinking about it, I realized that I know little to nothing about broccoli. Hence, the inspiration for this chain.
My brother and I many years ago (when we were still living in Phoenix and able to consume the delicious chicken breasts).
I emailed the Schwan's Customer Service email about revealing their broccoli sources to me and this is the response I got (which led me nowhere). Since the broccoli I'm tracing is from the US, I'm going to focus more on broccoli production in relation to America and just touch on it in relation to other countries.
So, what is broccoli?
Broccoli, Brassica oleracea var botrytis, is a member of the Brassicaceae plant family, also known as the mustard family. Broccoli is a derivative of cabbage and is closely related to Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and kale. It is a fast growing, annual plant that thrives in moderate to cool climates. Broccoli is normally grown as a spring or fall crop. Broccoli grows in two different ways: sprouting and heading. Sprouting broccoli is less common in the United States and looks like cauliflower. Heading broccoli is what we grow here in the United States. Broccoli is the 6th most popular vegetable in the United States and it is favored for its high concentration of vitamin A and K.
Where is broccoli from?
Broccoli originated in the Mediterranean and still grows there wildly along the coast. The broccoli we know and love came from Messina, Italy about 2,000 years ago after Italian scientists carefully bred different types of cabbage to create it. Italy introduced broccoli to England, which in turn introduced broccoli to America, in the 1700s. Broccoli didn't become significant in the United States until after World War II; however, the first seeds were planted in San Jose, California in 1923 after Italian immigrants brought them over. Today, California is the largest producer of Broccoli in America. The United States is the third largest broccoli producer in the world, following behind China as the first and India as the second largest. However, the United States receives the most imports from Mexico and Guatemala.
California
California is the largest producer of broccoli in the United States. Its climate is ideal for broccoli to be planted year-round; however, the main harvest is in the Fall. California produces 92% of the United States' broccoli and exports around 20% of the fresh produce. Total broccoli acreage peaked in 1999 at 148 thousand acres. The four main production areas are the southern desert valleys, the southern coast, the central coast, and the central valley. California exports about 20% of its fresh produce to Canada, Japan, and Taiwan.
Mexico
Summarizing the video below, broccoli is harvested and produced quite differently than it is in California. The farmers don't use tools and instead use baskets like the one in the picture. They do this because their broccoli is a lot taller than American grown broccoli. They also harvest broccoli year-round, so during the rainy season it becomes very difficult to move equipment through the fields without damaging the soil. Guanajuato is the leading state for broccoli in Mexico. A majority of our frozen broccoli imports come from Mexico.
Production
Broccoli is planted in two ways: direct seeding or transplanting, but the majority of the industry uses direct seeding. Broccoli is typically planted in double rows on raised beds. To produce the best yield, the soil must be well-draining, salt sensitive, nutrient dense, and have a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Phosphorus and potassium is sometimes added to the soil as well. Irrigation is required to maximize yield, and is usually done with furrows and overhead sprinklers. Herbicides and a good crop-rotation system can control the weeds. The most common broccoli pests include different types of caterpillars, which can be controlled using organic insecticides, synthetic insecticides, or by manually removing the worms (small crops only).
Processing
According to Colorado State's article "Broccoli", fresh market broccoli is field packed and harvested by hand. Immature (ready) broccoli should have green, zero flower buds, and the head should be compact, with a cleanly cut stalk. The standard pack consists of heads that average 3 to 8 inches in diameter. The stems are cut at 8 inches and placed on a harvest belt. Two to four heads are bunched, secured with a rubber band, and then cut to a uniform 7 inches. Fourteen or eighteen bunches of broccoli are packed in a carton that weighs at least 23 pounds. A packed carton consists of 34 to 38 bulk-packed crowns and weighs a minimum of 20 pounds. Broccoli destined for the freezer is also hand-harvested. The stem is cut at 6 inches. The heads are placed on belts, then collected into large bins or trailers, and hauled to the processor.
How does broccoli travel?
Just a reminder: the broccoli used at Schwan's is frozen, so this is a look at how frozen broccoli is transported and distributed to companies like Schwan's.
For the best results, transporters have found that these things help produce healthier, fresher produce:
- limited handling
- carton packaging
- temperature monitors
- regular maintenance checks
And, of course, Schwan's delivery truck is refrigerated since everything they sell is frozen.
Sources
Boriss, Hayley, and Henrich Brunke. “Commodity Profile: Broccoli.” Commodity Profile: Broccoli. Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, 2005.
“Broccoli.” Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, June 2018. https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/broccoli.
“Broccoli.” Titan Farms. Accessed December 4, 2019. http://titanfarms.com/what-we-grow/broccoli.aspx.
“Food Supply Chain: Transporting Fresh Fruits & Vegetables - Food Supply Chain Basics.” Datex Corporation, April 26, 2017. https://www.datexcorp.com/food-supply-chain-transporting-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables/.
Mullaney, Sara, and Maggie Weinroth. “Brocolli.” Food Source Information, February 9, 2018. https://fsi.colostate.edu/broccoli1/.
Strange, Michelle Le, Michael D Cahn, Steven T Koike, Richard F Smith, Oleg Daugovish, Steven A Fennimore, Eric T Natwick, Surendra K Dara, Etaferahu Takele, and Marita I Cantwell. “Broccoli Production in California.” University of California: Agricultural and Natural Resources, 2010. https://doi.org/10.3733/ucanr.7211.
Travis, Glenn, Glenn Travis, Casey Elizabeth Branstetter, Victoria Herr, and Gail. “Broccoli Production in Guanajuato, Mexico.” Guanajuato Mexico SP16, February 17, 2016. https://sites.psu.edu/guanajuatosp16/2016/02/17/broccoli-production-in-guanajuato-mexico/.
