PORTLAND (AP) – Introduced as a rotation crop for potato growers, Maine broccoli has gained a seasonal niche in East Coast supermarkets as the state solidifies its spot among the nation’s five top producers of the cruciferous vegetable.

It’s during the height of summer that Maine broccoli finds its place in the sun.

When top producers California and Arizona limit production because of extreme heat that wilts their crop, Maine broccoli thrives in summers that typically combine warm days and cool nights.

“Maine is probably the ideal climate to grow broccoli in the United States in the period of time we’re in,” said Matt Williams, a crop specialist with the Houlton office of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

East Coast supermarkets get much of their broccoli from Maine from July through the fall, according to experts.

While many Mainers may be unaware of how much homegrown broccoli they consume, the state is taking steps to spread the word.

“Can we trust you with a secret? Maine has had a secret love affair going on for many years . . . with broccoli!” reads a July edition of The Maine Market Basket, a newsletter produced by the Maine Department of Agriculture and the Maine Nutrition Network. “With Maine’s first crop of 2006 just starting to appear . . . this is the perfect time to share the love.”

Potato growers began experimenting with broccoli about a quarter century ago as a rotation crop that would stem the depletion of certain nutrients from the soil and avert the buildup of pests and diseases.

Federal statistics show that Maine reported just 33 acres planted with broccoli in 1978, said Gary Lucier, a U.S. Department of Agriculture economist. By 1987, he said, Maine had 2,367 acres and ranked fifth in the nation in terms of broccoli acreage harvested.

Maine has about 5,500 acres of broccoli planted this year, said Mary Ellen Johnston, director of marketing and production development for the state agriculture department.

Under ideal conditions, she said, that would produce a harvest of 44 million pounds.

The harvest, which continues through fall, appears to be a good one, said Emily Smith, broccoli production manager for Smith’s Farm Inc of Presque Isle, one of two major Maine broccoli growers.

“I have to say this year has been almost perfect,” said Smith, while noting that the unpredictability of Maine weather makes farmers reluctant to offer crop forecasts.

Broccoli requires a lot of human labor and specialized equipment that is only feasible for large farm operations, Williams said.

Although famously disdained by former President George H.W. Bush, broccoli has won favor among consumers for its health benefits. As of 2005, Americans were consuming 5.6 pounds per capita of broccoli each year, Lucier said.

The Maine Department of Agriculture estimates that Mainers consumed more than 6 million pounds of broccoli last year, much of it from Maine.

Caliofornia, Arizona, Washington and Oregon are also among the nation’s top five producers.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com

AP-ES-08-20-06 1107EDT