Schumer Announces USDA Greek Yogurt Pilot Program Will Expand to 12 States Starting in September, Including New York

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will expand its already successful Greek yogurt pilot program to eight new states, in addition to New York and three other states that participated from September to November 2013. Schumer said that from September 2014 to June 2015, New York, Arizona, Idaho, Tennessee, California, Iowa, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Mississippi will partake in the pilot program. The contract will again be put out to bid for all Greek yogurt producers to compete.

Following news in January that participating schools had consumed 200,000 pounds and $300,000-worth of Greek yogurt, in the 3 month pilot, Schumer urged the USDA to expand this program to additional states in his pursuit of permanently adding this high-nutrition and protein-rich food to the USDA School Lunch Program. Today's news is a critical step in that effort.

"The proof is in the yogurt when it comes to the success of the USDA Greek Yogurt Pilot Program. I'm thrilled that there will be twelve states -- again including New York - with protein-packed Greek Yogurt on the menu this Fall, and I applaud the U.S. Department of Agriculture for forging forward with this initiative, which is great for business and school children alike."

Schumer has long-fought to make New York the Greek yogurt capital of the United States, pushing for federal investments in production facilities and federal assistance to dairy farmers to increase milk production to meet the increased demand from Greek yogurt.

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