Long time player, first time poster.
I enjoy the idea of expanding trade and have been thinking about a very simple idea to do so.
Cash Crops
The idea to just add a few more crops with different properties.
The big three are sugar, tobacco, coffee all of it could easily be done via "growing zone -> select type"
Personally, I have never grown more than few lucky devilstrand mushrooms to full. Generally, a solar flare will kill my hydroponics with mushrooms and make me cry. If growing outside, winter and summer pose their own challenges, 45 days is just so long.
I often get my money by farming and selling extra food early on, with enough colonists, I eventually start to produce art, clothing, and cook surplus meals.
While this type of wealth generation is functional, I think expanding the opportunities to get more silver to trade would be good. Having an extra field to the side with the idea of profits, or potentially joy producing goods, adds a bit of character to the colony. The main way for colonies to get resources is via export, while I realize what I'm about to say is a real life example, and Rimworld isn't "real life," I think taking into account that some economies heavily dependent on exports (i.e. every Rimworld colony ever) will grow cash crops for export is a good idea.
Something to have for export between the inexpensive potato to the (for me, at least) nearly impossible to grow devilstrand, would be a welcome addition.
For the colonies advocating for agrarianism, having more sources of joy you can produce for yourself is always good too. The chocolate is already in the game, so I hope this idea can be considered a "cheap idea" with easy implementation beyond needing to make a bit of new art work.
