Have you ever been disappointed with the fruits and vegetables you have bought in the grocery store? Of course you have! There is nothing more frustrating in the grocery shopping experience than finding some beautiful fresh produce on the shelf only to get it home and find that it is flavorless or the texture is just not right.

Well never fear! There are some very smart people in the field of horticulture working hard to solve that problem. And today we have one of those people with us today on the podcast. Our guest today has been called the “Willy Wonka of Veggies!” This Cornell professor and plant expert creates new breeds of vegetables that offer exciting new flavors, and other adaptations valuable to farmers and eager eaters alike. And all through natural breeding processes.

Joining us today is Michael Mazourek, the Calvin Knoyes Keeney Associate Professor of Vegetable Breeding at Cornell University. He is going to tell us about that work and also share with us some his remarkable achievements. One of which was a new variety of squash that has taken the vegetable world by storm.