Friends of Schoharie Crossing

 The Erie Canal transformed apple production in NY State by creating a vast new transportation network that linked upstate orchards to urban markets. Before the canal's completion in 1825, Western NY's fertile land was ideal for apple growing, but shipping costs of over $100 per ton were prohibitive. The canal dramatically reduced this cost to as little as $6 per ton, opening up immense economic opportunities for farmers.  The Canal's major role in the apple industry is that it opened new markets. The canal provided a direct and affordable route for farmers in Western NY to ship their harvests to NYC and beyond. This expanded market spurred farmers to transition from growing apples for personal use to planting larger commercial orchards.    Scene in one of Clark Allis' Medina orchards showing picked apples barreled on site, c. 1910. Image source: private collection, accessed on Western NY Heritage Press This called for boosted production. Niagara County quickly grew ...