Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, you can find Alvarez Organic Farm outside on the cobblestones on Pike Place. Certified Organic for the past 9 years, Alvarez is currently selling peanuts, beets, potatoes, garlic, zucchini, squash, squash blossoms, scallions, Walla Walla sweet onions, fava beans, assorted dry beans and more. Later in July, once the hot weather has spiced up their peppers, Alvarez will be hanging out those signature pepper strings and wreaths made from a colorful variety of hot and sweet peppers.

Hilario Alvarez, a PPM farmer since 1994, farms across the Cascades in Mabton, Washington, about 30 miles east of Yakima. Summer temperatures in Mabton are typically in the 90’s, so having Alvarez Farms at Pike Place means customers can benefit from both cool and hot weather crops simultaneously. Western Washington farms still have spinach, peas and strawberries whereas Alvarez expects to sell corn within a couple of weeks. If you’re looking to try something new for dinner, try Alvarez’s squash blossoms stuffed with a little of their garlic and sweet Walla Wallas and goat cheese from Blue Rose Dairy (found in the North Arcade just south of Moon Valley Honey in the North Arcade on Fridays). They are delicious when stuffed and lightly fried.