What's in Your Bag, Barbara?

I love familiar faces. Our farmers market brings in plenty of out-of-towners, vacationers, and even foreigners. But it has its fair share of frequenters, which means I can easily hunt down people for the “” edition of this column.

This past week, I found a local volunteer (and avid reader) I had tried to flag down two weeks earlier. She was in a hurry, so I let her escape the torture of being interviewed … until now. She had a lot to say about the benefits of the market, like how great it is to eat both seasonally and locally, and how important it is for people to attend the event weekly.

Check out the wise words of this local foodie, mom, wife and volunteer.

Name: Barbara James

Occupation: Volunteer.

How long have you been a part of the Coronado community? Two years.

How often do you visit the Coronado Farmers Market? Every week, unless I’m out of town—and I plan my trips, so I don’t miss it! I like to come and try to buy enough to cook meals for the whole week.

Favorite farmers market find and why? Oh my! Really hard question … I’m really big on the fruits and veggies. And I get to try these things I’ve never seen before (like kohlrabi and tatsoi). I get to experiment with all kinds of food. I love combing the different vendors’ food, like the cheese and almonds. ! There isn’t anything here I won’t eat!

Why should people come to this particular market? You can eat fresher food and the food lasts better. [The market] feels very community-based. It’s special and we don’t want it to go away, so you've got to support it. I buy some of the stuff and send it to my daughter in New York (who’s attending college there). She misses the strawberries here. They’re just not the same anywhere else.

Favorite ingredient to cook with from our market: Our eating patterns are cyclical, but I use lettuce and spinach every day.

Organic or not? I’m not adamant [about eating organic food]. I like it and prefer it, but it’s just a principle. It’s fine to be broken. I eat food, but I eat , too! [Laughs]

Do you have a favorite Fresh from the Farmers Market story? I really love the hints—like the to keep it from browning.

Ok, so what’s in your bag?

• Spring onions
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Avocados—I didn’t know that I preferred Fuerte avocados instead of the Haas until I started coming here.
• Plants, like succulents (from )
• Eggs
• Meat
• There would be berries in there, too, if it were the season!

James also shared with me her love of pairing market finds, like lettuce or spinach, with her newfound love, lavender balsamic, from . She insists it’s great and she puts it on everything. I, too, have tasted this scented balsamic, and have to agree. James could use it with most of her bag contents, like her cheese, spinach, drizzled on top of halved avocados or reduced and poured over a steak.

If you love and support our farmers market like James does and want to be featured in “What’s In Your Bag?,” hunt me down at the farmers market on Tuesdays. I’m there at 2:30 p.m. sharp roaming the goods. I’m the girl with the Patch bag and camera in hand. I’d love to get to know you and see what’s in your bag!