Milton Farmers Market extends hours during town's July 4 celebration
In connection with daylong activities in historic Milton Friday, July 4, the Milton Farmers Market will open one hour early, running from 2 to 6 p.m. Held each Friday at the corner of Union and Magnolia streets, the market brings over 20 vendors to offer fresh and local produce, delicious baked goods, homemade jams, all natural meats, wild-caught seafood, and a variety of specialty items and prepared meals.
Stay cool with an Independence Day red, white and blue ice cone at the Kona Ice tent. Kona Ice offers cool treats in five sizes and dozens of flavors, starting with the kiddie cup at $2 all the way up to the 22-ounce overfilled Kowabunga. Owner David Johnson said customers love his flavor wave, which allows patrons to customize ice cones using any amount of the 10 most popular flavors in any combination they choose.
At the July 4 market, every Kona Ice purchase comes with a free 4-by-6-inch flag. Plus, Johnson promises to have the coldest bottled water in Milton at his tent.
Another way to cool off at the Milton Farmers Market is to grab an iced coffee made from freshly brewed organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans at the Tiny Bean Coffee Company. Owner Andrew Barranco offers coconut milk and a variety of flavored creams for customers to personalize their beverage.
Tiny Bean Coffee Company sells single-origin, whole-bean coffees each week at the Friday market. “A single-origin coffee is the opposite of a blend. It is the pure, unaltered flavor of a geographic region. You would not believe the differences in taste from Ethiopia to Columbia,” Barranco said. A sampling of his coffees are Brazil Dry Processed Fair Trade Organic, roasted medium dark; Columbian Supremo, roasted Vienna dark; and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Fair Trade Organic.
Barranco roasts the imported beans in Milton in small batches to ensure freshness and extreme preservation of flavor. Often, the beans he brings to Milton Farmers Market finished roasting just hours before his arrival. To keep the coffee fresh once it is opened, the bags come with a one-way valve to allow consumers to squeeze the air out of the package as the product is used. Half-pound bags make about 30 cups of coffee and sell for $10.
This week Junior Wilson will be the man behind the microphone providing live music. A polished performer with years of professional experience, Wilson is known for his lively and entertaining music featuring a variety of styles and instruments.
Abundant free parking is available in the lot on Magnolia Street or on the street. The market offers a range of fresh and wholesome foods for table, pantry and freezer. Visitors are urged to bring a cooler to go from the market to Milton Memorial Park for ongoing activities, culminating at 7 p.m. with a free concert in the park.
