Chobani Coming to K-12 Schools through USDA Pilot

Chobani, maker of America's leading Greek Yogurt brand, was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a competitive bid process to exclusively provide Greek Yogurt for K-12 school meal programs. The four-state pilot program—happening now in New York, Idaho, Arizona and Tennessee—will make the popular Greek Yogurt, which has two times more protein than regular unstrained yogurt, more affordable for school leaders to put on their menus. To learn more about the pilot and Chobani's involvement, visit www.gogreekinschool.com. "We strongly believe that everyone, especially kids, should have access to simple, delicious, nourishing foods so we are thrilled to bring our authentic strained Greek Yogurt to K-12 schools as part of the USDA's pilot program," says Chobani chief communications officer Nicki Briggs, MS, RD. "Families are choosing Greek Yogurt at home due to its many benefits; now more kids will find Chobani in their school cafeterias too. Offering food options that deliver on taste and nutrition, like Greek Yogurt, will encourage children to develop healthy, balanced eating habits." The pilot program, which is designed to evaluate the success of adding Greek Yogurt to school meal programs as a healthy protein choice for students, will be activated in the four participating states this fall. The USDA will evaluate the program and determine next steps by December 2013. Chobani's authentic strained Greek Yogurt is nutritious, providing two times more protein than regular, unstrained yogurt. It also does not use milk protein concentrates and animal-based thickeners, ingredients some manufacturers add as thickeners to make "Greek-style" yogurts.