Purpose: To examine bacterial communities on the surfaces of broccoli, 20 samples of broccoli grown organically and generally were collected from retail stores. Methods: The samples were mixed with 0.1% buffered peptone water in a sterile plastic bag, and bacterial cells on the broccoli surfaces were collected by sonication. Metagenomc DNA was extracted, 16S rRNA genes were amplified, and bacterial communities on the surfaces of broccoli were analyzed using 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Results: Dozens of bacterial species were detected on the surfaces of broccoli. The number of bacterial species was higher on organic broccoli than on general broccoli, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. Members of the genus Pseudomonas were predominant in all samples (84-89%), with a few member of Janthinobacterium and unclassified genera of Enterobacteriaceae and Moraxellaceae. No differences in composition and abundance of the core genera were found between organic and general broccoli. Conclusion: This study presents novel data on the community structures and compositions of bacterial populations on the surfaces of broccoli. This data can make an important contribution to food safety and quality assurance.