Well, your kids were half right (and apparently they're brilliant as well, because I'm sure I hadn't the slightest idea what hybrid plants were when I was 10, 7 long years ago)

The cauliflower are hybrids, you can read about them here http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-06-14-orange-cauliflo wer_x.htm

I guess they have some sort of mutation that allows them to hang on to more beta carotene. The developers of the veggie then mixed and matched to get the perfect balance of genes and viola! The orange cauliflower was born.

Or, you know, something to that effect

Yes, well ** cough cough* * I think my kids are brilliant too!    We ate it tonight and it was really good, the colour stayed beautifully bright and it is really delicious.  It stayed firmer than regular white cauliflower and the kids were excited to eat it because it was so "cool" . That article was good, thank you!  It said that the orange cauliflower has 25 times the vitamin A than white , what does vitamin A do for us anyway?

I too like the organe cauliflower. What a great way to get kids to eat veggies. You should try the purple as well. I thought it stayed firmer as well. I like the purple and orange stirfried in a little oil with garlic, salt and pepper.

Hmmm, orange cauliflower hasn't made it over to this side of the Atlantic yet. At least I haven't seen them. Looks interesting.

That comment is really cool from your kids. It's what I love about children, unfettered imagination. Cheese and orange - brilliant! :D