Parsnip is native to Europe and it was already cultivated by the Romans. However, the development of quality parsnips began in the Middles Ages, a period in which parsnips had a great importance until it was replaced by potatoes and carrot.

Parsnip has a scarce commercial importance. Still, they are usually found in stores, supermarkets or superstores.

Its production in the Mediterranean countries, among which we find Spain and Italy, is of little interest. Nonetheless, its culture is much more developed in other European countries like France, Hungary, the Netherlands and Great Britain.

The production in Spain oscillates between 30 and 40 tons per hectare. They are hand-harvested; the harvesting is followed by cleaning, processing and trade.

The probabilities to increase the area of parsnip culture are scarce. It is barely consumed in Spain and it has little importance in the rest of countries.