East-Central Michigan is known for its innovative cities, quiet agricultural areas and sparkling waters. This region includes the Great Lakes Bay area, which surrounds Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron's Blue Water areas, and the fertile farmland of Michigan's Thumb and the agricultural communities north of Lansing and Flint.
The region has a long history in agriculture and once boasted the nation's largest farm east of the Mississippi River. At one time, Port Huron was considered the Chicory Capital of the United States. Today, this region produces dairy, corn, wheat, sugar beets and potatoes and is number one in the production of black beans, cranberry beans, small red beans and pickling cucumbers in the country.
Family farms grow a wide variety of produce, especially carrots, apples, pumpkins, squash, berries and sweet corn.
