What became Georgia's first staple crop, gaining significance in the Lowcountry?

Rice became Georgia's first staple crop and was significant in the Lowcountry due to its suitability for the region's climate and geography. The coastal areas of Georgia, particularly in the marshlands, provided optimal conditions for rice cultivation, which required flat, wet, and fertile land. By the late 17th and early 18th centuries, rice became a major cash crop, and its production was largely driven by the labor of enslaved Africans who brought with them agricultural knowledge and techniques that greatly improved cultivation practices.

This agricultural focus on rice helped to shape the economy and society of colonial and early state Georgia, influencing trade, labor systems, and social structures in the region. The success of rice as a staple crop established it as a central element of Georgia's agricultural identity and contributed to the overall economy of the Southern colonies.