BizBeat: Fresh offerings expanding downtown

River City Florist is expanding its fresh offerings in downtown Jefferson City. To celebrate the new, ever-changing fresh market of food items, owner Mike Moscato and his staff held an open house last week, allowing visitors a taste of what's available.

"I'm really excited about it," Moscato noted, of the new venture.

The business owner had hoped for a fresh market in the downtown area and eventually realized the opportunity was his. He had "everything going that anyone else would have needed" to get one up and running. All he needed was a great farmer to work with and a great product to offer his customers. "That's what this is going to be all about," Moscato said. "Superior, fresh beef, pork, corn, peas, etc."

Jim Puyear of Rocking P Ranch based out of Jamestown became the answer to both of those things. Fresh meats and produce will come directly from Puyear and be sold in the shop. The meats are antibiotic-free and grass-fed, with no-added hormones and finished with corn and oats, "at just the right time," Moscato said. The corn is non-sugar enhanced, and will be sweeter and better than most any other sweet corn simply for that reason, he noted.

Also on the agenda for the market are fresh fruits and vegetables, baguettes, specialty herbs and salts, butter rolls, balsamic vinegars and olive oils, Amish jams and jellies, and more. Open to providing many different things, Moscato said he looks forward to partnering with local farmers that grow a great product. He wants to provide "only the best you can find in Mid-Missouri," and noted that his inventory will be changing constantly to reflect that.

"I don't have all the answers, but will work my tail off to get great product," Moscato said. "Stay tuned."

So, with an established business and customer base, the space and even an empty cooler, Moscato obtained the necessary permits from the city just more than a week ago to bring these items to Jefferson City's doorstep. He hopes to make an impact city-wide, not just downtown, and plans to host a bigger "grand opening" of the fresh market later this year in conjunction with Art Stroll.

Know of any business happenings around town? Let us know at [email protected].