As any globe trotter worth his salt will tell you, one of the best parts of traveling to the distant and exotic is finding that perfect token to take home.

Unfortunately for a souvenir junkie like myself, local marketplaces the world over have slowly begun to resemble each other. My hand-woven Moroccan beanie and my traditional Corsican wood necklace both look like items I could have easily picked up in any Stateside strip mall.

So, when I stopped by the Ybor Saturday Market last weekend, I expected to see the usual: identical displays of beaded jewelry, incense, a few (potentially stolen) pleather handbags, the compulsory unfortunate-looking ceramic kitchenware, and since we're in Florida, some salt water taffy and a few Disney figurines.

I am thrilled to report that I was quite mistaken. From lush, local produce to artistically displayed frames of reclaimed trash, the market plays host to an array of unique locally produced items.

I could in no way do justice to the myriad of choices available. For that, you'll need to show up in Centennial Park on Saturday morning to see for yourself, but here are a few of my favorites:

This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2010.