“We just had a group of farmers contact us this week telling us it’s the height of strawberry season.  They’re perfect.  Except the problem is when they get too ripe they can’t ship them all over the United States because they’re too perishable,” she said. “But it’s fantastic for us because they’re right here and we got the strawberries in for our students. They love strawberries.”

Since the state changed the way school nutrition is governed, Hauser has visited farms and fields all over Collier County.  She’s learned what’s grown and made contacts that lead to phone calls advising when there’s a ripe load of fruit or veggies available at an excellent price.

It’s been three months since the oversight of Florida’s school nutrition programs moved from the State Department of Education to the State Department of Agriculture. Hauser credits Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam for leading the way. 

“What I have found is that with many farmers and many school districts there’s no connection between the two and that’s why I’m excited about Commissioner Putnam taking over the program because I feel like he is someone who knows how to make that connection happen,” she said.

When Adam Putnam was elected secretary of the Florida Department of Agriculture in 2010 he said he made persuading lawmakers to move the state’s school nutrition program under the umbrella of his department a top priority. 

“I think it has been an extraordinary, missed opportunity over the past few decades that the state that produces the most fresh fruits and vegetables during the months that kids are in school hasn’t done a better job of getting those same products into the school system,” said Putnam.

Nationwide, school nutrition programs are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.    A large portion of the food consumed in school cafeterias is funneled through the USDA.  It’s a dual-purpose structure -- supporting farmers by purchasing their surplus commodities and then using that food to supplement school nutrition programs. 

But, in most states, except for New Jersey, Texas and, now, Florida, those federal dollars and commodities are distributed through the state’s department of education.  Putnam said that created an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.

“The fact that at the federal level the school nutrition programs are managed by USDA it makes sense that at the state level they’d also be managed by the Department of Agriculture,” he said. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture will be very involved in getting fresh fruit and produce into schools as this year’s harvest continues.  Florida-grown tomatoes, peppers and lettuce are available in cafeterias right now. Watermelons will make their appearance in May.   

Both Putnam and Hauser say the hope is that by instilling good eating habits in our children all of society will benefit eventually by reduced obesity and related diseases.  

Getting kids to eat their fruits and veggies, though, is another matter.  But, help is on the way.   New standards for the amount of salt, fat and calories in school lunches have been introduced at the federal level, spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama.   

Choices will be fewer and healthier.  Some standards need to be in place by the end of next school year. Florida -- with its new oversight in the agriculture department -- may be well ahead of the curve when it comes to making those changes.