Page 18 - CFAN_Mar2014

Commissioner’s

AgriCorner

A ‘Nutrislice’ of Florida’s School Nutrition Program

by COMMISSIONER ADAM H. PUTNAM

nation.
FLORIDA'S SUNSHINE AND TEMPERATE CLIMATE provideformorethanagreatvacationdesti
Our unique climate allows for the vast majority of Florida’s nearly 300 agricultural products to be in peak production

between the months of October and May, which just so happens to correspond with Florida’s school year.

With this correlation in mind, and with the While we have made great progress in directing more divided into teams and challenged to try the produce item
support of the Florida Legislature, the Florida locally grown, fresh produce to Florida’s school cafeterias, of the day. Staff or volunteers can track the points using

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services we discovered the most difficult challenge is getting the an app on a smartphone, and the scores are streamed live
assumed responsibility of Florida’s school nutrition healthy menu items the last 18 inches, the distance from on a display in the cafeteria. The real-time scores drive

program two years ago. We believe that by aligning the tray to the mouth. To eliminate that 18-inch gap, we more and more students to put their team ahead by trying

our school menus with Florida’s harvest seasons turned to a tool familiar to students: social media.
the healthy item.
and establishing relationships between schools We partnered with Nutrislice to develop an app for Preliminary results show these competitions increase

and farms, we can direct more locally grown, fresh tablets and smart phones that features detailed school consumption of healthy items and significantly reduce
produce to Florida’s school cafeterias.
breakfast and lunch menus. The Nutrislice app is more food waste. I recently officiated one of these competitions

than just a digital version of the school lunch menu—it is at an elementary school in Orlando, where first-graders,
an interactive tool that provides nutritional information, boys against girls, competed to see how many students

most difficult challenge opportunities to rate menu items, and even allergy alerts.
tried fresh strawberries. The girls won, but nearly
We discovered the healthy menu We’re also using social media technology in the everyone tried, and finished, their strawberries.
is getting the items the last 18
cafeteria to encourage students to make healthy choices. I encourage you to download the Nutrislice app to
inches,thedistancefromthetraytothemouth. To
eliminate that 18-inch gap, we turned to a tool We partner with schools to host lunch-time competitions learn more about what your kids are eating in school. The
social media.
and boost consumption of healthy foods. Students are
food and the menu are not what they used to be. ag
familiar to students:

WORDS TO THE WISE ON FILING FEDERAL
TAXES FOR YOUR FARM BUSINESS, PART I

AS A FARMER OR RANCHER, you lead a busy TIP ONE: KEEP APPROPRIATE AND SUFFICIENT RECORDS

life—waking up before the crack of dawn, overseeing your If you did not have a good record-keeping system in place
farming enterprise or tending to your livestock—the last for 2013, then filing federal taxes will be all the more

by STEVEN E. CRISMAN
thing you want is to add tax season stress to your plate. time consuming. As a grower or rancher, your time
Farmers are just as busy as any small business during tax is at a premium, so it’s essential to have an efficient

season because an ag operation is a small business (when record-keeping practice in place to make the filing
Bio: Steven Crisman is the managing partner of Cross, Fernan- owned by a sole proprietor).
process run more smoothly. Your record-keeping system
dez & Riley, LLP’s (C/F/R) Winter Haven office and leads their
In this series of columns, I’ll address some important should help you keep track of your income, expenses,
Agriculture Practice Group. He primarily serves the agriculture,
manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution industries. He has considerations for your business that will ease the process deductible expenses and other items reported on your tax
specific experience with citrus growers, cattle ranchers, citrus and of filing your taxes. These words to the wise should not forms.
other horticultural nurseries, citrus harvesters and other support
industries as well as watermelon, blueberry and other growers. In replace a trusted tax advisor, but are meant to help light In next month’s column, I’ll address how transactions
addition, Steve provides comprehensive tax and estate planning, the path on your way to addressing your ag operation’s are typically recorded as well as the length of time relevant

attestation and business succession planning services.
unique business circumstances.
documents should be kept on record.

18 | CFAN
FloridaAgNews.com