This just in, and finally there’s a bit of good news on the child nutrition front:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –  June 23, 2011

Tallahassee, FL – Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam issued the following statement today in response to Governor Rick Scott signing the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act (S.B. 1312) into law:

“Today, Governor Rick Scott signed the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act (S.B. 1312) into law. I applaud Governor Scott for embracing our collective effort to improve nutrition in school cafeterias across the State of Florida. Together, we’re going to direct more of Florida’s fresh fruits and vegetables to Florida students. We’re going to help Florida’s children build healthier eating habits. And we’re going to take on the challenges of the childhood obesity epidemic. I want to personally thank Representative Seth McKeel and Senator Gary Siplin for their leadership in this effort. With the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act signed into law, we’re putting the children of Florida and their health first.”

Passage of the bill was a primary goal of Florida Impact, the state’s senior legislative public policy advocacy organization, which conducted an extensive grassroots lobbying campaign in support of the legislation along with a broad colation of other groups and supporters. Impact is also the lead partner with Share Our Strength on the Florida Project to End Childhood Hunger. Information on the Partnership can be found here.

As Commissioner Putnam stated, the Act, which shifts control of nutrition programs for students from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture, will help improve nutrition in school cafeterias across the State of Florida, and specifically direct more of Florida’s fresh fruits and vegetables to Florida students. You can read the text of S.B. 1312 here.