Why were the middle atlantic colonies called the "breadbasket colonies"?

The Middle Atlantic Colonies were called the "breadbasket colonies", because they had rich soil which made them a huge exporter for wheat and grain. They were also the most religious and ethnically diverse colonies. Alongside their big wheat and grain export, they also enjoyed big lumber and shipbuilding industries and had abundant forests which helped them in the textile and iron industry.

Making a pilgrimage to Mecca