[Vala] string manipulation question

[Charles Hixson <charleshixsn earthlink net>]

Is there a better way to do this?

   string    htmlCardItemSeparated (string itemName,
                            ArrayList<string> itemList,    string 
separator = ", ")
    {    if    (itemList.size < 1)    return    "";

        string    itms    =   @"<tr><td>$itemName</td><td>$(itemList[0])";
        for    (int i = 1;    i < itemList.size;    i++)
            itms    =    itms    +    @"$separator$(itemList[i])";
        itms    =    itms    +    "</td></tr>\n";
        return    itms;
    }