The aroma of fresh oregano and basil wafted through Main Plaza Tuesday as a way to entice passersby to support local farmers and buy home-grown products.

Jeff Balfour, executive chef of Hotel Valencia's Citrus restaurant, staged a cooking demonstration alfresco. He used fresh onions and bell peppers from the farmers' market that brings its wares to Main Plaza every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Market to menu was the message of the event.

"This is to show support for farmers' markets and that we use the products every day in our restaurants," Balfour said.

From eggs to vegetables to herbs, Balfour said he strive to use home-grown foods to support the local grower. His restaurant participates in the Texas Department of Agriculture's Go Texan program.

"We get to see the products," Balfour said. "We get to see what's fresh, as fresh as yesterday it was in the ground."

The Main Plaza market is a collaboration with the San Antonio Food Bank to try to promote healthier lifestyles and access to fresh vitamin-rich foods.

The savory aroma drew a small crowd to the cooking demonstration and at least one convert. Carmen Castro said she had never tried the market.

"I really want to do this because (it's) healthy," she said.

For a list of recent stories Marilyn Moritz has done, click here.