The cruciferous vegetable family, also known as the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family, originally hails from the Mediterranean and Central Asia and is a member of the mustard family, which includes plants such as mustards, radishes, and turnips. This family of plants is unique because it can cross-pollinate, meaning that different varieties of the same species can be bred to create new varieties.

Wild cruciferous plants were known for their bitter flavor and tough leaves and were likely only consumed by humans in times of scarcity. However, as early as 2000 years ago, ancient civilizations began experimenting with selective breeding to improve the taste and texture of these plants. This allowed people to harvest and store more food, as the heads of the plants could be preserved for longer periods of time.