The Cabbages of Kings, sweet little healthful jewels that have been enjoyed worldwide for more than half a millennium. Steam them, roast them, shave them into salad. Brussels sprouts add delicacy and distinction to almost any meal.

You have to go back to the 1500’s to find Brussels sprouts in Belgium, but that’s where and when they first achieved notoriety. (Actual origins may go all the way back to the Romans!) These tiny cabbages have grown in stature and popularity dramatically over the last century, with California beginning its massive industry in the 1920’s.

Like its cabbage-cousins, the nutritional value of sprouts is well-known; they are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid and fiber. As they’ve become more popular, their versatility has grown, too. No longer just something you boil and butter, they can be shaved raw into salads or oven roasted with other winter and root veggies.