Michael Mazourek

Michael R. Mazourek is a plant breeder and associate professor at Cornell University[1] notable for developing the honeynut squash, a cultivar of a cross first developed by Cornell University plant breeder Richard W. Robinson,[2][3][4][5][6][7] creating the Habanada,[8] and Row 7 Seed Company, a seed company co-founded with Dan Barber of Blue Hill and Matthew Goldfarb.

[9] Mazourek attended Cornell University to study pepper biochemical genetics and through his work with Molly Jahn and Henry Munger became interested in plant breeding.

[11] Mazourek is a public breeder who works on breeding for quality and disease resistance in peppers, peas and cucurbit crops.

[12][13] Notably, he has bred the honeynut squash and is working on breeding a cucumber that resists downy mildew.

!” Working closely with Barber, Mazourek began breeding the squash for flavor rather than yield, uncommon in the industry at that time.