How did the Erie Canal help farmers in the Midwest sell their products?

The Erie Canal revolutionized the ability of farmers in the Midwest to sell their products by providing a cost-effective, high-capacity water route to eastern markets. Before the canal, transporting bulk commodities via wagon was difficult, slow, and expensive.1

By connecting the Great Lakes to New York City via the Hudson River, the canal allowed farm produce from states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan to be shipped efficiently. Canal boats, pulled by mules or horses, could carry 30 tons of produce—significantly more than wagons—which drastically reduced transportation costs from $100 per ton to less than $10 per ton.2

Buffalo emerged as a vital transshipment point where this produce was transferred to canal boats for the journey to New York City. This reliable access to markets not only facilitated the sale of agricultural goods but also allowed for the return transport of manufactured goods from eastern cities to the developing western territories.21