Is that weird? Seems optimal for each region to grow the most efficient crops for their local conditions, which would require at least some of that type of trade.
Except you have people in California growing almonds in the desert.
Deserts are great places to grow things if you have the water available. Basically the foundation of civilization. See Egypt and Mesopotamia. Almonds grow great in California and are a great cash crop. We need to trade something to China for all that stuff.
Isn't it pretty clear that California doesn't have the water available?
Almonds and cotton require basically the same setup apparently - so growing almonds in cotton states would make more sense but nobody wants Georgian almonds
I've responded to this four times now, it turns out.