Native to the Mediterranean region, artichokes were brought to the United States in the 1800s and first grown in Louisiana by French immigrants and in California by the Spanish. Today artichokes are grown almost exclusively in California.

The artichoke, a thistle-like plant, thrives best in frost-free areas with cool and foggy summers (Simms et al.). The predominant variety of artichoke in California is the Green Globe, which is planted as a perennial, though other varieties are also planted as annuals through direct seeding or transplants depending on the region (Schrader and Mayberry). The marketable portion of the artichoke is the result of harvesting an immature flower. If left to mature, artichokes blossom into a bright purple inedible flower. Artichokes are marketed as fresh, frozen or canned products.

The state-chartered California Artichoke Board was originally created for generic promotion, research and grower cooperation, however, since 1999 the majority of its resources have been invested in research (California Artichoke Advisory Board).  December 2005 . . .  Artichokes