As a Registered Dietitian for the Dairy Council of Florida, I am often asked the question, “Is buying organic milk better?” There are several factors to consider when answering this question and I think the information will surprise you.

Many common-sense food safety guidelines apply year around, but warmer weather and outdoor dining bring additional concerns. Bacteria and other pesky food culprits may turn a picnic into a case of food poisoning. Barbecues-gone-bad can mean a trip to the emergency room.

’Tis the season for food-borne illness, which can range from mild stomach cramps to vomiting and diarrhea, and in very rare cases even death.

So, before you pack a picnic or throw another burger on the grill, allow us to indulge you in Food Safety 101.

As summer vacation begins, it is worth taking a moment to share the success of the “Fuel Up to Play 60” program that was enjoyed by students and faculty in our elementary and middle schools this year. If you are not aware of the program, Fuel Up to Play 60 is a youth-led, school-based effort designed to help combat childhood obesity and help students develop life-long healthy eating habits while encouraging at least 60 minutes of daily activity.

A major component of the program was a national competition with students accumulating and tracking points on a daily basis for each physical activity they participated in and healthy food they chose. With nearly 200,000 students tracking points, Florida was proud to be home to the national winner, Accel Castillo, an eighth-grader from Palm Springs Middle School.

Florida Dairy Farmers had the pleasure of being on-site at this year’s Gator Football Women’s Clinic. This annual clinic allows the female fans to meet the Gator football coaches and learn more about what it takes to be a Florida Gator. This includes learning some of the plays, touring the facilities, running out of the tunnel and running practice drills with the coaches.

June Dairy Month, an annual tradition developed to celebrate the dairy industry and its contributions to our society, originated in 1937. During its first two years it was called National Milk Month and ran from June 10 to July 10. The 1937 event, sponsored by chain stores, was given the theme “Keep Youthful – Drink Milk.” Originally supported by the National Dairy Council (NDC), June Dairy Month was established to help stabilize dairy demand during periods of peak production. To assist in that effort, NDC provided promotional materials to the 6,300 stores participating.

The dairy farmers of Florida are in accord with the statement of the National Milk Producers Federation issued on May 26:

“The dairy industry takes claims about animal mistreatment very seriously. Any evidence of animal abuse should be taken promptly to the appropriate state and local authorities whose job it is to investigate those claims, which has happened with the situation in Ohio.

The video released on May 26 is deeply disturbing and depicts practices that are absolutely unacceptable. Ohio’s dairy farmers, and those across the rest of the country, do not countenance this type of treatment… and we support a further investigation into the situation on the farm.”

Bay Point Middle School in St. Petersburg was honored May 25 for making a significant difference in the wellness of its students.

Bay Point accumulated the most points in the inaugural Fuel Up to Play 60 program that was launched by the National Dairy Council and National Football League. Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Clayton was on site to help the Dairy Council of Florida acknowledge Bay Point’s efforts. The Dairy Council of Florida presented the school with a HOPSports Training System designed to further enhance its fitness efforts.

Accel Castillo, an eighth-grader from Palm Springs Middle School, has taken the top individual honor for the inaugural Fuel Up to Play 60 competition, beating 198,825 peers from around the country.

Castillo was honored at his school on today (May 21) and arrived in style, riding in a limousine with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess. Once on campus, Castillo received recognition during an assembly in the gymnasium for being a proactive leader of the first-year school wellness program launched by the National Dairy Council and National Football League.

As a registered dietitian who works for the Dairy Council of Florida, I often am asked about the differences between milk and milk alternatives such as almond, rice, hemp and soy.

To start with, milk offers more nutrients per penny than almost any other beverage option in the grocery store and is one of the most nutrient-rich foods on your grocery list. Milk is a great source of calcium and is naturally rich in vitamin B12. Milk also provides a natural nutrient package that soy and other calcium-fortified foods can’t beat.

In addition, milk provides the same great nutrient package every time, no matter which brand you choose. Milk is required to conform to a federal standard of identity, which governs fat content and nutritional fortification levels; soy and other substitute beverages are not required to conform to a standard of identity.

South Broward High School’s Krystal Saunders has been named the 2010 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball. She was honored during a school-wide ceremony at her high school in Hollywood on April 21.

South Florida dairy farmer Kara Watkins of C.R. Melear, Corp., was on site to present the award to Saunders.

Florida is home to a thriving dairy industry that includes farms all across our state. Every morning, these farmers begin the process of providing fresh milk for consumers. Just who are these farmers? Get to know them and their stories.

The Florida Departments of Agriculture and Education have joined a campaign to fight and defeat childhood obesity in cooperation with Dairy Farmers, Inc./Dairy Council of Florida and the NFL, multiple health organizations and several major corporations.

As a child, it was common to get up first thing in the morning and go outside to “play.” You returned home when Mom had lunch ready and then it was back outside to “play” some more until dinner.

Kids today have their free time filled with options that don’t require physical activity. Their time is consumed by cell phones, video games and the Internet. Nutrition also is suffering with family meals being replaced by convenient drive-thru options.

There is help, however.

The Dairy Council of Florida, Departments of Education and Agriculture and Jacksonville Jaguars will host a news conference in Tallahassee on Monday, April, 12 to speak about Fuel Up to Play 60, an initiative designed to combat childhood obesity.

Florida is home to a thriving dairy industry that includes farms all across our state. Every morning, these farmers begin the process of providing fresh milk for consumers. Just who are these farmers? Get to know them and their stories.

Dairy Farmers, Inc. participated in this premier show for the Central Florida Hispanic community and encouraged families to have dinner together and make milk a part of the moment.

Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest High School’s Brandon Knight has been named the 2010 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball. He was honored during a school-wide ceremony at his high school on March 25.

DFI board member Randy Burnham of Burnham Farms, Inc., in Okeechobee, was on site to present the award to Knight.

The winner of the Mr. Basketball Award, sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, was determined in voting by a statewide panel of high school basketball coaches and prep media representatives.

From March to August, America’s milk processors are traveling coast to coast with the “Drink Well. Live Well.” tour, encouraging Americans to not only live well, but drink well with milk.

DFI staff attended the 2010 Milk Mustache Mobile Tour kickoff event on Monday, March 1st at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. This year, the tour includes a booth dedicated to promoting Fuel Up to Play 60. The FUTP60 booth includes information about our partnership with the National Football League as well as lots of fun goodies for the kids.

Dairy Farmers, Inc. was in Tampa on February 26 and 27 for the Gasparilla Distance Classic and health expo. The Gasparilla Distance Classic is a three-day event that gives participants a variety of races to choose from, ranging from a 5k to a marathon.

DFI was at the expo and finish line to help runners refuel with ice-cold, chocolate milk samples, courtesy of Farmland and Hood’s Simply Smart. Runners also got to have a little fun inside the expo by trying their hand at the prize wheel to win Got Milk? prizes and a chance to have their milk mustache picture taken.

Fourth-grade students Eve Watson and Ashley Hamilton of Yulee Elementary were recognized on March 5 as the first- and second-place winners of the Dairy Council of Florida’s “Jaxson de Ville Fuel Up to Play 60 Every Day” essay contest.

Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville joined the Dairy Council on site to honor the winners at an hour-long school-wide assembly. In addition, the winners’ classmates received a special visit and photo opportunity with Jaxson de Ville.

How many times have you heard “breakfast is the most important meal of day,” only you don’t have enough time in your morning routine to get everyone where they need to be and fed? No matter what your age, children and adults need to eat a nutrient-rich breakfast to ensure that everyone feels their best and performs their best at work, school or play. National School Breakfast Week is March 8-12 and to help you prepare for it, we want to give you a little background on what makes breakfast one of the most important meals you can eat.

Dairy Farmers, Inc. participated in the Run Around the Pines race to promote Refuel with Chocolate Milk. Run Around the Pines is an adult 5K and a children’s one mile race produced by Track Shack in partnership with Florida Hospital. The event was held at Winter Park’s Showalter Field on Saturday, February 20, 2010.

There is often a lot of confusion when it comes to comparing low-fat milk to whole milk. There is a perception that, because certain milk is lower in fat than others, it contains fewer nutrients.

All milk has calcium and vitamin D for strong teeth and bones, protein for muscle growth and calcium, potassium and magnesium for healthy blood pressure.

Doctors and registered dietitians encourage drinking low-fat and fat-free milk because it has the same calcium, protein and vitamins and minerals as whole milk with less fat and fewer calories.

Now that you know why to make the switch, here’s how to do it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer cheerleaders and linebacker Quincy Black joined the Dairy Council of Florida at Saturday’s Smile Mile race to speak to local students about Fuel Up to Play 60. The program is provided by the Dairy Council of Florida, the NFL and the USDA and is designed to combat childhood obesity by encouraging kids to “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods that are often missing from their diets and “get active and play” for 60 minutes a day.

There are many ways you can indulge this Valentine’s Day while sticking to your diet and exercise goals.

First, if you’re in the mood for something sweet this Valentine’s Day, opt for a nutrient-rich snack like strawberry milk. It will fit right in with the theme of the holiday and offers the same nine essential nutrients as unflavored milk.

If you must have chocolate this Valentine’s Day, dark chocolate is a satisfying treat that can provide nutritional value when consumed in moderation. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that come from extracts of the cocoa bean. Choosing dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa gives your body more of these healthy antioxidants. Some studies report small portions of dark chocolate can maintain heart health and the health of blood vessels. Remember, whatever your chocolate choice is, enjoy it in moderation.

Palm Beach Dwyer’s senior defensive back Matt Elam was named the 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school volleyball coaches and media representatives.

Elam, who has signed with the Florida Gators, was an early enrollee at the university. He was honored during halftime of the Florida-South Carolina men’s basketball game on Saturday, January 23rd. Matt Lussier, local Hawthorne dairy farmer and president of Dairy Farmers, Inc., was in attendance and presented the Mr. Football trophy to Elam in front of thousands of screaming, Gator-nation fans. Elam joins Tim Tebow as the only other Gator to win the award (2005).

Florida is home to a thriving dairy industry that includes farms all across our state. Every morning, these farmers begin the process of providing fresh milk for consumers. Just who are these farmers? Get to know them and their stories.

Did you know that Ali Vincent – the first female winner of TV’s “The Biggest Loser” – was once a very fit, nationally and internationally ranked synchronized swimmer?

When she gave up competing, Ali never replaced that activity with anything else. Over time, her weight increased to 234 pounds! Yes, weight gain can happen to anyone, even a competitive athlete.

Throughout her time on “The Biggest Loser,” Ali used exercise and nutrient-rich foods, such as low-fat dairy, to help her lose 112 pounds. After winning, she realized that weight maintenance is just as important as weight loss, which is where dairy can play a role.

In today’s challenging economic times, it’s important to make smart food choices that balance price and nutrition. Milk and other dairy foods have an important place in the grocery cart because they are naturally nutrient-rich. At just 25 cents per 8-ounce glass, milk is a bargain when you think of all the liquid assets inside. Milk’s value makes cent$!

Milk offers more nutrients per penny than almost any other beverage available. So make sure empty-calorie beverages including soda or bottled juice drinks don’t edge out nutritious options such as milk. One 8-ounce glass of fat-free milk contains nine essential nutrients, only 80 calories and zero grams of fat – a wise investment!

Milk, cheese and yogurt provide a unique nutrient package. Studies show that dairy foods, when consumed as part of a healthy diet, improve overall diet quality and may help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, obesity, hypertension, colon cancer and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that can lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Florida has the honor of hosting the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl this year.

Hosting your own football party is a great way to get together with friends, enjoy the game and eat plenty of food. If you’re wanting to host your own, but not sack your savings doing it, the Dairy Council of Florida is here to help.

We’ve put together two menus that will offer your football fans plenty of good food to munch on while cheering for their favorite team. And the best part is that both menus are less than $30.

The first is the appetizer menu. It serves up to 10 people and only costs $25.45. It also includes milk, so it’s kid-friendly for your younger football fans.

The Dairy Council of Florida joined Tampa Bay Buccaneer mascot and cheerleaders at Seminole Middle School yesterday to help students kick off the restart of Fuel Up to Play 60. The program is provided by the Dairy Council of Florida and the NFL and empowers students to make changes at school that will help them “get active and play” for 60 minutes a day and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods that are often missing from their diets.

Cheerleaders from the Bucs answered questions from the students about how many hours a day they practice, the types of food they eat and how they stayed healthy in middle school. Bucs cheerleader Stephanie told the students that she liked to eat whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits and vegetables and stayed healthy in middle school by riding her bike to and from school. Bucs cheerleader Rochelle said they practice 6 hours a week but kids can get 60 minutes of exercise a day by walking their dog, playing dodge ball or rollerblading.

Thanks to Florida’s dairy farmers and T.G. Lee, an Oviedo family has a new refrigerator and a year’s supply of milk to go with it.

Jeffrey Ross-Hauer entered the “free fridge” contest that was part of DFI’s 2009 version of the Florida Gators Frosted Flakes cereal box. The contest gave one lucky Gator fan a new refrigerator and a year’s supply of free milk coupons courtesy of T.G. Lee.

The new fridge arrived just in time for Ross-Hauer. His 21-year-old refrigerator was falling apart and causing food to spoil.

Compounding the issue for Ross-Hauer is that he and his wife are unemployed and couldn’t afford to replace their old refrigeator. They also have had to make difficult budgeting decisions, such as cutting out their favorite drink: chocolate milk.

The USDA has joined a campaign to fight and defeat childhood obesity in cooperation with the NFL, National Dairy Council, multiple health organizations and several major corporations.

The campaign, known as Fuel Up to Play 60, is funded with an initial private sector financial commitment of $250 million over five years by America’s Dairy Farmers. Funding is expected to grow as government, business, communities and families join this effort to improve nutrient-rich food choices and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity each day among children. More than 58,000, or 60 percent, of the nation’s 96,000 private and public schools are currently enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60.

It is possible that today’s children could become the first American generation with a shorter life expectancy than their parents. One-third of American children are overweight or obese. The obesity prevalence is about three to four times that of just one generation ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Florida is home to a thriving dairy industry that includes farms all across our state. Every morning, these farmers begin the process of providing fresh milk for consumers. Just who are these farmers? Get to know them and their stories.

Get back to basics and ring in the new year by choosing more nutrient-rich foods & beverages! After the overindulgence of the recent holidays, parents are resolved to get their families back on track. But healthier eating doesn’t have to mean a major overhaul. These simple swaps and recipes can still bring big benefits:

Serve milk with meals- In a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, those who drank more sweetened beverages, such as soda and sports drinks (but not milk or fruit juice), at the age of “5” were more likely to be overweight over the following 10 years.

Florida is home to a thriving dairy industry that includes farms all across our state. Every morning, these farmers begin the process of providing fresh milk for consumers. Just who are these farmers? Get to know them and their stories.

Martin County High’s senior middle hitter Elise Walch was named the 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school volleyball coaches and media representatives.

Walch was honored this afternoon during a school-wide assembly in Martin County High’s auditorium. Bob Rydzewski, a local dairy farmer with McArthur Dairy, Inc., was in attendance and presented the Miss Volleyball trophy to Elise and a commemorative banner for the school gym.

Bob also led the entire volleyball team in a milk toast as the Florida High School Sports Awards program also emphasizes to youth the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet and overall nutrition plan.

Walch is the 18th winner of the annual award sponsored by Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, who also honor the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 26 FHSSA-sanctioned sports. She finished the 2009 season with 547 kills and added 58 digs, 151 blocks and 29 aces, helping her team to a 31-1 record on its way to capturing the Class 5A state title. In her career at Martin County, she finished with a school record 1,244 kills plus 225 blocks and most kills in a match (32). Walch was named an AVCA first-team All-America in 2009 and named 2nd team All-State in 2008. She plans on attending the University of Wisconsin next fall.

The Dairy Council of Florida and Pasco County Public Schools are partnering to place 30 dairy vending machines in middle and high schools around the district. The machines cost a little over $4,000 each and almost 40% of the cost of these 30 machines will be covered by a grant from the Dairy Council of Florida.

In addition to increasing access and consumption of dairy to Pasco County’s population of over 70,000 students, these 30 dairy-focused vending machines have the potential to generate additional revenue for the district as each school retains the proceeds of all sales from the machines. Milk, cheese and yogurt will be positioned with complimenting foods that meet the recommendations for a healthy diet set forth by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, ensuring students have access to a variety of food groups to encourage (low fat and fat free dairy, fruits and vegetables and whole grains).

Bay Point Middle School students’ “Fuel Up to Play 60” team served as program ambassadors at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home game against the New York Jets on Dec. 13. The team of 11 students led the Bucs onto the field to start the pregame ceremonies and warm up.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a new program created by the Dairy Council of Florida and the National Football League that empowers students to make changes at school that will help them “get active and play” for 60 minutes daily and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods such as low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The program is designed to combat childhood obesity and help youth develop life-long healthy eating and daily physical activity habits.

The Dairy Council of Florida teamed up with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins to help kids stay healthy by educating them about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. In a joint effort with Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville, the Dairy Council of Florida is sponsoring an essay contest for all fourth-grade students in over 160 schools in Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau and Baker counties.

Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown is tackling the task with all fourth-grade students in 600 schools in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties. The contest, “Fuel Up to Play Everyday”, is an opportunity for students to show their understanding of how eating healthy every day helps them fuel their bodies for an active life.

The Dairy Council of Florida participated in the recent “Go For the Challenge” Team Nutrition Grant training on November 16th in Tallahassee that was broadcasted throughout the state via the Florida Education Network. The goal of the training was to provide technical assistance to school health and wellness professionals so they can achieve positive, sustainable changes in their school’s nutrition and physical activity environments. This training was the first phase of the Team Nutrition Grant that Florida received for $350,000. The Dairy Council of Florida and Florida Action For Healthy Kids are partners in this project and Jennifer W. Sills of the Dairy Council of Florida gave three presentations regarding partner and program opportunities that schools can leverage to help with their wellness goals. Participating individuals and schools will now have the opportunity to apply for mini-grants as phase two of the project.

Lake Worth Middle School Students Celebrate Healthy Eating and Exercise
Davone Bess, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, and the Dairy Council of Florida joined Lake Worth Middle School students on November 24th to kick off Fuel Up to Play 60 at the school. The program is provided by the Dairy Council of Florida and the NFL and empowers students to make changes at school that will help them “get active and play” for 60 minutes a day and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods that are often missing from their diets.

Davone spoke to the students at their gym pep rally about how important it is to eat healthy foods and exercise. He challenged the kids to get 60 minutes of exercise every day, whether they walk, run, play football or even walk their dog. Davone also encouraged students to eat the recommended three servings of dairy a day so they can fuel their minds and bodies. “With the right preparation, you can do anything,” he said.

Eat Healthy This Thanksgiving!

It can be difficult to be health conscious, especially during the hectic holiday season. The 70 percent of people who prepare food for their guests during the holidays are leading the trend toward simple and healthy entertaining options that allow the host to enjoy the party alongside family and friends, while still being health conscious.

When it comes to food, Americans want it “tastier, easier and quicker” according to “What America Eats,” an annual survey from PARADE magazine of the nation’s food and eating patterns. Quick-cook appetizers like Cheddar harvest fondue or no-cook options like a cheese board accompanied by whole grain bread, fall fruits and nuts, are delicious, easy and nutrient-rich options that provide key vitamins and minerals that Americans are lacking. Research shows that eating three servings of low-fat dairy foods a day can help reduce your risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers.

Buccaneers, Dairy Council of Florida and Publix Team Up for Third-Annual “Turkey Time with the O-Line,” where the O-Line will Provide Thanksgiving Meals for more than 600 Needy Families.

On Tuesday, November 24, the Buccaneers’ offensive line, Dairy Council of Florida and Publix will team up to provide Thanksgiving meals for those less fortunate at the third-annual “Turkey Time with the O-Line.” C Jonathan Compas, T Demar Dotson, OL Marc Dile, C Jeff Faine, G Davin Joseph, T James Lee, G Shawn Murphy, T Donald Penn, G Arron Sears, T Jeremy Trueblood and G/T Jeremy Zuttah will distribute full Thanksgiving meals to more than 600 disadvantaged families from the Tampa Bay area during the drive at One Buccaneer Place. The families, which have been preselected by the United Way of Tampa Bay, will receive a full meal purchased by the Buccaneers’ offensive line with assistance from Publix. Meals include one 10-12 pound turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, rolls, stuffing and vegetables. The Dairy Council of Florida will also give the families cheese sticks and drinkable yogurts.

The Dairy Council of Florida, Gustafson’s Dairy and Orange County Public Schools are partnering to place 15 dairy vending machines in middle and high schools around the district. These 15 machines build on last year’s successful program that placed 10 machines across the district.

These 25 dairy focused- vending machines have the potential to generate $7,500 per week in additional revenue for the district while increasing access and consumption of dairy to the over 80,000 students in the fourth largest district in the state. Milk, cheese and yogurt and will be positioned with complimenting foods so that students have access to a variety of food groups to encourage (low fat and fat free dairy, fruits and vegetables and whole grains).

The Dairy Council of Florida is keeping score of school wellness at over 3,600 Florida schools! By using the Fuel Up To Play 60 program from the Dairy Council and the National Football League, Florida schools can win wellness grants by planning activities that encourage students and staff to get healthy.

Schools which have organized and submitted healthy activities and events such as health fairs, pep rallies, tasting parties, menu makeovers, fitness challenges, walking clubs, fun runs, fundraisers and education classes can score big. Each month a school can apply for the “Rookie of the Month” designation by sharing their Fuel Up To Play 60 programs, projects and events. Monthly “Rookie” winners receive $500 for their efforts while the end of the season “Hall of Fame” designees can earn up to $5,000 to continue their wellness efforts into the 2010-2011 school year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer Michael Clayton and the Dairy Council of Florida joined Pinellas Park Middle School students on November 17th to kick off Fuel Up to Play 60 at the school. The program is provided by the Dairy Council of Florida and the NFL and empowers students to make changes at school that will help them “get active and play” for 60 minutes a day and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods that are often missing from their diets.

Michael Clayton met the students at a pep rally in the gym and spoke to them about eating right and getting exercise. He stressed the importance of eating breakfast before starting classes and how, growing up, his father always made sure he ate breakfast. Michael also gave away signed footballs to some of the students in attendance that were able to answer nutrition questions from his speech.

Jennifer Whittaker Sills, registered dietitian and Director of School Marketing for the Dairy Council of Florida, made an appearance on The Daily Buzz to speak about the “Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk” campaign. The campaign is a call to moms all over to show their support in order to keep low-fat chocolate milk in schools. The campaign was created by the National Dairy Council and the Milk Processor Education Panel.

In attempts to improve the nutritional quality of school meals, some schools and lunch advocates are calling for low-fat chocolate milk to be removed from the lunch line, a move that many health professionals agree could cause more harm than good.

Milking cows for a living comes with its share of daily responsibilities.

The top priority for Florida’s 140 dairy farmers is the health and well-being of their animals. Dairy cows that are healthy and content allow farmers to produce a wholesome supply of locally produced milk for consumers.

Farmers also have great respect for the land and the natural resources around them. Caring for the environment and being a good neighbor allows them to be an active participant in a sustainable Florida.

These days, however, dairy farmers are facing a challenge that is threatening their way of life. Economic hardship is affecting Florida’s dairy industry, which is poised to lose $99 million this year, according to a University of Florida study.

Celebrity British Chef Jon Ashton brought his “Iron Chef Challenge” to Biscayne and North Beach Elementary Schools in Miami-Dade County.

Chef Jon and the Dairy Council of Florida were in Miami on Nov. 4th with a goal of getting 150 students at each school to think about their food in a healthy manner and focus on exercise. The Biscayne Elementary School assembly ran from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and North Beach Elementary School’s assembly was from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer All-Pro Derrick Brooks and the Dairy Council of Florida joined R. Dan Nolan Middle School students Tuesday, November 3rd at a rally kicking off Fuel Up to Play 60. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a new program that empowers students to make changes at school that will help them “get active and play” for 60 minutes a day and “fuel up” with critical nutrient-rich foods that are often missing from their diets.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is provided by the Dairy Council of Florida and the NFL. It is part of a national initiative by the NFL and National Dairy Council (NDC) to prevent and help combat childhood obesity and help youth develop life-long healthy eating and daily physical activity habits. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an unprecedented opportunity to join the strengths and resources of these two powerful organizations and help youth establish healthy behaviors.

Prevalence of lactose intolerance may be far lower than previously estimated, according to a study in the latest issue of Nutrition Today.

The study, which uses data from a national sample of three ethnic groups, reveals that the overall prevalence rate of self-reported lactose intolerance is 12 percent – with 7.72 percent of European Americans, 10.05 percent of Hispanic Americans and 19.5 percent of African Americans who consider themselves lactose intolerant.

Florida’s dairy farmers participated in the annual Southern Women’s Shows in Orlando and Jacksonville during October and presented “Coupon Queeny” Tanya Senseney, who shows consumers how to cut their grocery bills in half. One contest winner from each city won a shopping spree with Tanya at a local grocery store, as well as a gift card and got milk? gift basket. The Orlando shopping spree was featured on two local TV stations.

NFL teams annually participate in a variety of hands-on community service projects, known collectively as Hometown Huddle. The Hometown Huddle events take place in the NFL markets on the same day in October and represent a snapshot of some of the volunteer activities in which NFL teams participate year-round with local United Ways and their agencies.

This year, the Dairy Council of Florida used these Hometown Huddle events as a springboard to bring awareness to the FUTP60 program in Tampa and Jacksonville.

Students ‘Book It’ To Win Statewide Breakfast Bookmark Contest

The Dairy Council of Florida, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Management, celebrated the third annual Florida School Breakfast Week with a statewide bookmark contest.

The theme of this year’s Florida School Breakfast Week was “Ready, Set, Go …” and featured a bookmark contest encouraging students to eat school breakfast every day during the week of Sept. 14-18. The contest “Ready, Set, Go … Book It to Eat School Breakfast!” was open to Florida students in grades K-12 who participate in the National School Lunch Program. More than 500 schools submitted entries.

Dairy Council of Florida Attends Worldwide Day of Play in Jacksonville
Some experts believe that if unhealthy habits among kids continue to increase, our current generation could become the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents.
The Dairy Council of Florida, JaxParks, Jacksonville Jaguars, The American Heart Association, Jacksonville Children’s Commission and Winn-Dixie [...]

Dairy Council of Florida Celebrates Breakfast Week at Bunnell Elementary
The Dairy Council of Florida showed up to Bunnell Elementary on September 25th to help celebrate “Breakfast Week.”  Over 80 second-graders were there to participate in the Dairy Council of Florida’s “Mini-Recharge” drills.
“Mini-Recharge” is a youth fitness event for children in grades 2-5.  The program is [...]

Celebrity British Chef Jon Ashton brought his “iron chef challenge” to Phillippi Shores and Cranberry elementary schools in Sarasota County.

Chef Jon and the Dairy Council of Florida were in Sarasota on September 9 with the goal of getting students at each school to think about their food in a healthy manner and to not forget about exercise. The Phillippi Shores assembly ran from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Cranberry’s was from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Chef Jon, a Liverpool, England, native who has made appearances on the Today Show and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, brought all of the ingredients. The creative part was up to the students who worked in teams to create healthy snack recipes.

In Honor of Mother Earth, Here Are Five Facts About Dairy:

1. Cow power. In addition to producing enough milk each day to fill six one-gallon jugs,(1) an average dairy cow produces enough manure to help dairy farmers fertilize their fields naturally. And now, farmers are finding even more ways to recycle manure, such as turning it into power for their farms and their communities.

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SEE THE NIGHT IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT!
Now through August 14, Walt Disney World® Resort is igniting summer nights with high-energy excitement you won’t want to miss!
You’ll see the return of the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade, led by Tinker Bell and featuring new magical surprises. Drop in on The Twilight [...]

Schools can play an important role in educating children about nutrition, health and physical activity to help prevent future health concerns. Several studies show that investing in children’s physical health also improves their emotional and psychological well-being and ability to learn.

Boone High School in Orange County is a little greener this year thanks to some help from the Dairy Council of Florida. The high school’s environmental club joined the Council in February to kick off the “Drink It then Sink It” recycling program. Students received recycling buttons and entered a drawing to win cool prizes.

Dairy producers, through their checkoff investment, are partnering with Domino’s Pizza® to launch a line of six specialty pizzas that use up to 40 percent more cheese than a regular Domino’s pizza. The potential additional cheese sales for these pizzas total more than 10 million pounds of cheese annually, using more than 100 million additional pounds of milk.

Escalating food costs are taking a big bite out of household budgets, but there are many
ways you can feed your family well for less. It means taking a hard look at the economic
and nutritional value of the foods and beverages that fill your grocery cart.

2008 Mr. Football – A.J. Graham

Live Oak dairy farmer Ed Henderson of Shenandoah Dairy presents the most prestigious honor a Florida high school football player can win on Jan. 30. Tallahassee Godby senior quarterback A.J. Graham was named the 2008 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football. Graham, who signed a scholarship with Marshall University, is [...]