NYS Schools to Participate in USDA Greek Yogurt Program

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced Monday that the state will participate in the USDA Greek Yogurt Pilot Program that was petitioned by Schumer in June 2012.

The USDA will purchase Greek yogurt for delivery to participating schools this fall. In addition to New York, three other states are also participating in the pilot program, including Tennessee, Idaho and Arizona. The USDA is limiting the program to these four states because yogurt is a highly perishable product and schools in those states are near yogurt manufacturers.

Schumer says he is thrilled that New York schools will have a chance to participate in the first ever Greek yogurt pilot program in September. Schumer has fought to make New York the Greek yogurt capital of the nation.

New york companies like Chobani in New Berlin are fast growing industries and are helping the dairy industry grow by buying vast amounts of milk locally.