Peach flavors range from barbecue to beer at annual Peach Festival in Milton
The annual Peach Festival arrives at the Milton Farmers Market from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, July 26, with special offerings at every vendor’s tent.
At the entrance, T.S. Smith will display mounded baskets of ripe peaches along with all the bounty of their local farm in Bridgeville. Look for fresh produce and products from several farmers throughout the market, including locally grown hydroponic and organic selections, with exotic mushrooms from Kennett Square. Many vendors will have peach-inspired recipe cards on hand.
Moving to the Abbott’s Grill booth, market patrons will enjoy the flavorful aroma of chicken on the grill smothered in slow-cooked peach barbecue sauce made from fresh local peaches. Also, Abbott’s will serve peach gazpacho as well as peach tea and lemonade, with an offering of Peach Melba for dessert. At 5 p.m., Chef Kevin Reading will provide an informative, hands-on demonstration of his special gazpacho recipe and technique.
Milton’s Dogfish Head Craft Brewery will bring Festina Peche for tasting along with a special shortcake conjured up by Chef Dennis of the Rehoboth Dogfish Head restaurant. The shortcake is made with Zitvogel Farm blueberries and finished with festina peche honey.
Hopkins Creamery returns to the Milton Farmers Market with a truck filled with numerous ice cream confections made at the Lewes dairy farm, including the flavor of the moment, freshly made peach ice cream.
Milton resident and master baker Pat Grieninger will raffle her homemade peach cheesecake as a fundraiser for MFM’s charitable endeavors. Tickets will sell at $1 each or six for $5, and the winner need not be present when a name is selected at market’s close.
Specialty tents on the grounds feature local honey, skin care products, homemade jams and jellies, tie-dyed organic cotton shirts, and lush annuals and perennials. This special Fourth Friday event also brings a visit from Kemp’s Liquors with tastings available of several fruity summer wines.
As always, the market offers products from several local farmers and bakers, plus main course tents with food to go, as well as fresh meats and seafood to prepare at home. Many market attendees give in to the temptation of a sweet treat and bring their cones or cups or pastries to the shaded seating in front of the performance area where this week’s music features the lively sounds of Matt Lafferty’s Band.
The Milton Farmers’ Market fills the lot on Union Street across from the library every Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. with plenty of free parking available in the lot on Magnolia Street.
