The Middle colonies, which roughly extended from New Jersey to upstate New York, had different geographical and economic conditions. They were settled by a mix of English, Dutch, and German immigrants who were largely small-scale farmers. New York City, a major urban center in the region, was a port for trade and commerce.
The Middle colonies had a more diversified agrarian economy focused on multiple crops and livestock. Agricultural activities such as wheat cultivation and dairy farming were notable in places like Pennsylvania and New York. Small-scale farmsteads were common, and agricultural production was often supplemented by other economic activities like milling, shipbuilding, and the manufacturing of various products.
So, while plantation agriculture predominated in the Southern colonies, the economy of the Middle colonies was rooted in smaller-scale farming, trade, and regional commercial development.