What product was Georgia known for producing that contributed to the state’s economic growth?

While peaches are indeed an important agricultural product for Georgia and have contributed to its cultural identity, the correct answer regarding the product that significantly contributed to the state’s economic growth is cotton.

Georgia played a pivotal role in the cotton industry, particularly in the 19th century, as it became known as a leading cotton producer in the United States. The fertile soil and favorable climate made the state ideal for cotton cultivation, which became the foundation for Georgia’s economy leading up to and during the Civil War. The introduction of the cotton gin made processing cotton more efficient and further boosted production.

Additionally, the plantation system that developed around cotton farming had wide-ranging socio-economic implications, fostering trade, influencing migration patterns, and establishing ties to the textile industry in the northern states and abroad. This economic focus on cotton helped shape Georgia's development much more profoundly than peaches or any of the other agricultural products listed.