Broccoli is originated in Italy, but it's actually not the largest producer of this cruciferous vegetable. That honor goes to the United States, which produces over 2 billion pounds annually! California leads the country in broccoli production, followed up by Arizona, Texas, and Oregon. All told, broccoli production requires about 130,000 acres of land, all of which is harvested by hand, for a total of $719 million each year.