What agricultural product became the foundation of the Virginia economy?

Tobacco emerged as the cornerstone of the Virginia economy in the early colonial period. Its cultivation aligned with the region's climate and soil conditions, making it an ideal cash crop that could thrive in Virginia's agricultural environment. As European demand for tobacco continued to grow, particularly in England, the Virginia tobacco trade boomed, leading to significant economic prosperity for the colony.

The introduction of tobacco farming transformed Virginia's social and economic landscape. Planters established large-scale plantation systems, which increased the demand for labor. This demand was largely met through the use of indentured servants and, later, enslaved Africans, fundamentally shaping Virginia's labor dynamics and social hierarchy. The wealth generated from tobacco also facilitated the growth of other sectors, including trade and transportation throughout the colony, further embedding tobacco into the fabric of Virginia's economy and society.

Other agricultural products such as rice, corn, and wheat did have their own importance in different regions or contexts, but none had the profound economic impact on Virginia as tobacco did during this formative period.