For Andrew James '26, it all started with one not-so-giant peach. Growing up in Dallas, TX, most of the yards in James' neighborhood were made up of Bermuda grass, but James' dad, Dustin James '97, decided to try planting a peach tree.
"There was one single peach on this tree. It was tiny, but it was the most delicious fruit I'd ever tasted," Andrew said. "My dad and I transformed our backyard from one tree to 100 fruit trees - apples, pears, plums, persimmons, quince, figs, plumcots, jujubes, mulberries - and our backyard is now this lush, beautiful oasis."
The farming bug had bit. Andrew decided to follow his dad to Cornell, but where Dustin majored in neuroscience, Andrew chose agricultural sciences. He's loved many of the classes he's taken so far, but among the top is Sustainable Orchard Management (PLHRT 3350) taught by Greg Peck, associate professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science's (SIPS) Horticulture Section.
