Cash crop

Pepper is a common cash crop

A cash crop is a crop that is grown to be sold on the market. This is different from a subsistence crop which is grown for the personal use of the farmer, or as food for the farmer's animals.

There are several different categories of cash crops, for different purposes.^[1]

Foods

Food crops are grown to be eaten by humans or animals. Since modern agriculture(farming) methods allow farmers to grow much more food than they need to feed themselves and their families, the extra is sold to others.

Some food crops include:

Apples, a food crop.

Wheat, barley, and other grains

Spices and Herbs

Spices and herbs are ingredients added to food in order to make it taste less bland. Spices and herbs do not make up much of a meal but are very flavorful. Since spices and herbs are used in small amounts but can be grown in much larger quantities, the surplus grown is sold as a cash crop.

Some spices/herbs include:^[2]

Cinnamon, a spice crop.

Materials

Material crops are plants which have parts that can be used as raw materials to create objects with. Material crops are not eaten, but sold to the market for usage for various purposes.

Some material crops include:^[3]

Medicinal/Drug

Medicinal and drug crops are grown for their effects on the human or animal body. Medicinal crops can help with healing, relieving pain, and curing illness. Some medicinal crops can be used to substitute for sugars. Drug crops are crops that are used for recreational purposes and often have addicting effects.

Some medicinal crops include:^[4]

Cannabis Sativa, or Marijuana, a crop that is both a drug and medicinal.

Aloe Vera

Amla
Basil
Lavender
Lemon grass
Marijuana

Some drug crops include:

Decorative

Ornamental plants are crops grown and sold for the purpose of making a place look more attractive. These include flowers, though they can be any plant that decorates an indoor or outdoor space. Ornamental crops are frequently used in gardens, parks, and public places.

A farm where flowers are grown for commercial purposes.

Some decorative crops include:

Cash Crop Media

A cotton ball. Cotton is a significant cash crop. According to the National Cotton Council of America, in 2014, China was the world's largest cotton-producing country with an estimated output of about one hundred million 480-pound bales.
A farmer harvesting pods from a cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) in Cameroon. Originally native to South America, cacao has become an important cash crop in West Africa, which grows around 70% of the world's supply of cocoa beans.
A tea (Camelia sinensis) plantation in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia
Jatropha curcas is a cash crop used to produce biofuel.
Oranges are a significant U.S. cash crop.
Different potato varieties. – The potato is the vegetable of choice in the United States. On average, Americans devour about 65 kg of them per year. New potato releases by ARS scientists give us even more choices of potatoes to eat.
Sliced sugarcane, a significant cash crop in Hawaii
In the U.S., cannabis has been termed as a cash crop.