Greek yogurt, specifically of the Chobani kind, proved to be a big hit with school students in four states, according to the USDA, which tested the company’s Greek yogurt during the schools’ lunch periods.
The yogurt was offered during lunches between September and November. During that time students ate 200,000 pounds of the dairy product, totaling $300,000,Mark Weiner reported in the Post-Standard.The states Arizona, Idaho, New York and Tennessee piloted the program, which Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) says should persuade the USDA to launch it in other states as well.
"Clearly, New York students ate up the USDA Greek yogurt pilot program, and I am urging the USDA to continue this great work and add it to more states," Schumer is quoted in the article. "The USDA has done great work thus far, and I hope they will continue bringing this protein-packed snack to more school lunch rooms.”
Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, said in a prepared statement that the company is pleased with the program's success.
Greek yogurt, which has more milk than traditional yogurt, is a $6 billion-per-year industry. New York leads the charge with its companies controlling about 70 percent, making it a boon to the state’s dairy farmers. PD
—Summarized by PD staff from cited source
