Middle Atlantic States: New York

The European settlers and immigrants in New York State found fertile fields and a climate conducive to many crops. Apples have been especially successful, as have grapes, and these two are the leading fruit crops in New York. The grapes grown in the four regions of the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie, the Hudson valley, and Long Island support a flourishing wine industry. New York State is second only to California in the production of wine, including white (chardonnay, white Riesling, and Seyval-Villard), red (cabernet sauvignon and merlot), and sparkling wines as well as fortified wines, such as sherry and port. New York is also a leading producer of maple syrup, ranking just behind Vermont and Maine.