Where do parsnips come from?

Parsnips are commonly grown in Europe and in many northern aresa of the United States, but are not a popular garden vegetable in the South. However, this ancient vegetable is thought to have originated around the eastern Mediterranean. Parsnips are a member of the parsley family, cultivated for its large, tapering, white root, which is edible and has a distinctive flavour. This root vegetable is related to the carrot.