TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida's Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services will take over the state's school nutrition
program starting Jan. 1.

The transfer is a result of a decision passed during the 2011
legislative session.

With the transfer of the program, about 45 full time employees
move from the Department of Education to the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has been visiting Florida's schools for months to learn how educators teach students about
healthy food choices. Putnam's goal is to get schools and Florida
farmers to work together to bring produce and other locally
produced food into school cafeterias.

According to state officials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
recently announced it will allocate an additional $2.5 million to
Florida to help schools improve the quality of meals.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)