After building the port I found no use for it apart from the cows which provide milk & sheep that provide wool. The new trees just become fruit & plants just become vegetables. I see no point wasting resources sending out the ship to simply obtain the same items that I already have. I also have the same issue with farming potatoes I see no point to it when the gatherers bring in more than enough "vegetables". I guess what i am asking is can potatoes be stored as potatoes, pigs as pork, apples as apples, etc, etc. this in turn would open a new building "grocery" or a Market.