Chobani announced yesterday that it was selected by the USDA as the main provider of Greek yogurt to K-12 school meal programs around the country.

The company will offer its yogurt at significantly reduced prices as part of its founding mission to provide better food for more people. The USDA program will help make authentic Chobani Greek yogurt available for nutrition professionals to put on school menus nationwide – allowing children to have healthy and delicious options for their lunch tray.

"When it comes to kids, for us it's less about making money or moving market share," says Peter McGuinness, chief marketing officer of the company. "It's more about making an investment in children and providing them with healthier options in school – better food for more children."

"Chobani is a nutrient-intense food, and getting children the best nutrition early in life is very important to us," says Dr. Robert Post, senior director of the nutrition and regulatory affairs department at the company.

Chobani has a successful history of partnering with the USDA on the school lunch program. It was selected by the USDA in 2013 to be the exclusive provider of Greek yogurt in a pilot program in several states, an initiative that was considered an outstanding success and expanded in early 2015 as a permanent program.

This most recent bid was the first that invited all states to participate, with 10 states electing to take part: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. Officials expect other states to participate in this program in the coming school year. Yesterday's announcement confirms the success of these programs, designed to evaluate the benefits of adding Greek yogurt to school meal programs as a healthy protein choice for students. PD

—From Chobani news release