A new study published in the Journal of School Health concludes that fruit and vegetable consumption and dietary fat intake could play an important role in children's academic performance.
The University of Alberta research team surveyed 5,000 grade 5 students in Nova Scotia, Canada in 2003. They found that students reporting increased diet quality were significantly less likely to fail a literacy assessment test. In particular, those students with an increased fruit and vegetable intake and lower caloric intake of fat were significantly less likely to fail the assessment.
Source: http://www.foodqualitynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=84222-children-s-nutrition-fruit-vegetables-academic-performance
FDOC PARTNERS WITH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES TO FIGHT GREENING, CANKER
The Florida Department of Citrus and the Florida Citrus Commission contracted March 19 with the National Academy of Sciences to find solutions for greening and canker. NAS will bring together more than 60 leading scientific advisors to work with FDOC’s current citrus scientists.
The scientists are expected to:
• Review research efforts to date and identify the most promising future endeavors.
• Request and review proposals for new research to be conducted in 2008-2009.
• Develop a long-range strategic research plan.
• Publish an expert report recommending implementable solutions for citrus growers.
HORTICULTURE SOCIETIES TO PRESENT TIMELY SEMINARS
The Florida State Horticultural and Florida Soil and Crop Science Societies will hold their joint annual meeting June 1-4 at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott North.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson will serve as keynote speaker, and more than 170 applied research seminars will highlight new developments and practices for growers, processors, allied industries, and other horticultural interests in Florida. Those include citrus greening, pre- and post-harvest factors affecting fruit and vegetable quality and aroma, laser labeling of citrus, impacts of mechanical harvesting, and new citrus juice processing technologies.
For information about the Florida State Horticultural Society, including meeting details and on-line registration, please visit www.fshs.org.
FSU RECEIVES USDA GRANT FOR CLIMATE FORECASTING
USDA recently awarded Florida State University and five other institutions that make up the Southeast Climate Consortium $2.5 million to provide climate forecasting for the agricultural community in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
The grant was awarded to FSU, which will distribute the funds among the members of the consortium.
The two-year grant, which begins in July, continues work begun in 2003 and will help fund salaries for researchers and graduate students at FSU and the other universities.
At FSU, the research is conducted at the Center For Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies. COAPS conducts research in climate modeling, ocean modeling, quality control of weather data from ships, satellite oceanography and short-term climate forecasting.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR FFVA 2008 CONVENTION
FFVA’s 65th annual convention will be held at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples Sept. 21-23. Please save the date and plan to join us. Additional details will be available soon.
