Greek Yogurt Coming To New York School Menus
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: February 18, 2013
School lunch menus are about to get a new choice: Greek yogurt.
The US Department of Agriculture says the dairy snack can be a part of lunch menus in New York as a pilot project.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has been pressing the USDA.
"It's a win,win, win. A win for the kids cause they are eating something healthy but tasty that they like. A win for our dairy farmers and Greek yogurt industry and it's a win for our overall health as a nation. This contains a lot of protein it's not all junk," said Sen. Charles Schumer, (D) New York.
The USDA has kept it off of the school food list because of cost.
Sen. Schumer says it packs a protein punch for less money than other foods.
"They actually have to buy less of it to meet the requirements," said
Alpina Foods' brand new yogurt plant in Batavia has asked the USDA to let its product make its way into New York State Schools
"We are working hard by supporting the program, getting our name out there, people understand it," said Roger Parkhurst, Director of Operations for Alpina Foods, who also said the company now has 70 employees in Batavia and has product on store shelves in Wegmans.
This could be a huge boost to New York's growing yogurt industry.
If it works in New York, Greek yogurt could pop up at schools across the country.
