By: Charvi Arora
What do blueberry sandesh and cranberry pulao have in common? They are both delicious examples of how food reflects the growing U.S.-India trade ties.
The February 2025 U.S.-India Joint Leaders’ Statement emphasized expanding bilateral agricultural trade as a key priority for both governments. At AAHAR 2025 , an international food and hospitality fair in New Delhi, the U.S. Pavilion, organized by the Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), was a major highlight. The word “Aahar” means food, diet or nourishment.
Jorgan K. Andrews, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy New Delhi, inaugurated the pavilion with the theme “Taste of America 2025.” In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of trade in the U.S.-India bilateral relationship. Over five days, American food producers and trade councils worked together to show how U.S. food and beverage exports are becoming a trusted part of Indian kitchens.
The pavilion featured California almonds, walnuts, pulses, blueberries, cranberries, pecans, as well as U.S. duck and turkey products. These items weren’t just on display. Chefs prepared traditional Indian dishes with them, showing how American ingredients adapt to local culinary preferences.
U.S. ingredients in Indian dishes
Fusion dishes were a highlight of the U.S. pavilion, underscoring how American ingredients can integrate seamlessly with Indian culinary traditions. This adaptability is key to deepening market acceptance and expanding trade. Raj Kapoor of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council says Indian companies are experimenting with U.S. blueberries—fresh, frozen and dried—in products like blueberry lassi, kaju katli with blueberries, and blueberry kalakand. “We bring blueberries in bulk and supply them to the industry in large quantities so they can test and experiment. Once they are satisfied, they continue to buy from us,” he explains.
Sumit Saran, a longtime promoter of American foods in India, represented the American Pecan Council and the U.S. Cranberry Institute at AAHAR. “Both pecans and cranberries are becoming very popular,” he says, citing increased consumer interest. He highlighted examples like cranberry mithai and cranberry namkeen—classic Indian snacks reimagined with U.S. ingredients—as part of a larger trend toward fusion cooking in Indian homes.
Shiven Khanna, who works with the California Walnut Commission and the U.S. Egg and Poultry Export Council, emphasizes how regional Indian dishes are incorporating American elements. “India has a range of regional preferences, and we see that American ingredients fit in well,” he says, pointing to new creations like turkey biryani and Assamese duck curry with pumpkin. He also noted walnuts’ longstanding role in Indian sweets, such as California walnut halwa, reinforcing their natural fit in local recipes.
U.S. exhibitors didn’t just offer ingredients—they also demonstrated possibilities. At the pavilion, American blueberries were featured in dishes like blueberry kulfi, nankhatai, suji halwa, and even a blueberry dhokla, demonstrating the versatility of U.S. produce in familiar Indian formats.
Cranberries were equally prominent, appearing in laddoo, modak, papdi chaat, and khandvi. Even the classic thandai got a twist with cranberry milk thandai, while desserts such as cranberry mango kulfi and cranberry coconut kulfi attracted attention for their inventive blend of flavors. These examples showed how U.S. ingredients can support both tradition and innovation.
Deepening Trade Ties
The growing presence of U.S. agricultural products in Indian kitchens reflects more than evolving tastes—it signals a deeper economic partnership. As outlined in the February 2025 U.S.-India Joint Leaders’ Statement, both governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening agricultural trade. Events like AAHAR bring that commitment to life by creating platforms for U.S. producers and Indian businesses to collaborate, exchange ideas and adapt to changing consumer demands.
“Building stronger and more resilient trade ties is essential,” says Saran, emphasizing that such fairs support innovation, investment and job creation. “The world of food is beautifully interconnected,” he adds.
In the 2023 financial year, the United States exported approximately $1.8 billion worth of agricultural and related products to India, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture . Tree nuts, pulses and fresh fruits are among the top U.S. agriculture export prospects to India, according to a USDA International Agricultural Trade Report Sachin Khurana, India representative of the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, echoes this view: “Taste of America has been brilliant for us. The campaign helps bring the whole U.S. commodity sector together under one umbrella. We’re very proud of American farmers and the sustainable crops they grow. Campaigns like this help us present a unified front and expand our presence in India.”
From healthy snacking to festive sweets, American ingredients give Indian consumers greater variety and flavor while helping U.S. producers reach new markets. As bilateral trade deepens, the role of food in diplomacy and commerce continues to grow.
(This article is published as part of a special arrangement between Kashmir Images and SPAN Magazine, the publication of the U.S. Embassy in India (https://spanmag.state.gov/).
