Meet the Farmer

Even after years of working with the land, Alvaro Alvarez still feels excited when his produce is ready to pick.  Moments like picking his first strawberries of the season and sharing them with his wife and two daughters encapsulate why he does this work: to nourish his loved ones and community with healthy produce. 

Alvaro can trace his love of the soil back to his own childhood in Mexico, near the city of Toluca. He started working as a kid in the fields, helping his father cultivate crops for his business, including corn, beans, and jicama.

It wasn’t until he moved to the United States in 2010 that he started to learn more about the complexities of caring for the land. After taking part in the Organic Farm Incubator program at the Agriculture and Land-based Training Association (ALBA), he gained new knowledge about soil microorganisms and practices such as cover crops. This sparked a passion for growing produce while respecting and nourishing the soil. 

In 2022, Alvaro was able to start his own business, Joya Organic, primarily growing purple snow peas and strawberries. Even when he faces challenges in his business, he stays motivated because the results are worth it. For Alvaro, there is truly no better feeling than knowing that his daughters, and the people who buy his produce, are eating healthy food.