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.
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