Crops, Culture, Food, and Traditions: CALS Students Travel to India

In January 2026, 10 CALS students traveled to India for three weeks with Horticulture and GRS Department Chair Professor Ajay Nair and GRS associate teaching professor Catherine Swoboda as part of the India Study Abroad travel course Globe/Hort 4960 – India: Crops, Culture, Food and Traditions.

While in India, students had an incredible opportunity to experience and learn about the agricultural and food systems of the state of Kerala. Students visited multiple farmers, research centers and learned about a wide range of crops including mango, jackfruit, vegetables, rice, cocoa, cashew, banana, tea, coffee, cardamom, coconut, black pepper, nutmeg, rubber, orchids and ornamental plants. Students experienced the culture and food of India, and the course concluded by visiting the Taj Mahal. It was a truly enriching experience for everyone. Students left with a deeper understanding of food and horticultural systems in a global context and many memories they will carry forward.