The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has chosen Norwich–based Chobani, Inc. to provide its product in the USDA pilot program serving Greek yogurt in school lunches beginning in September.

The USDA on July 8 announced that New York is among four states participating in the school-lunch pilot program.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.), and U.S. Representative Richard Hanna (R–Barneveld) today made the announcement about Chobani in a joint news release.

The announcement is “good news” for the state’s “growing” Greek-yogurt industry and the Upstate dairy farmers who support it, Hanna said.

“This is a nutritious and healthy option for our children, and I am pleased that Chenango County’s own Chobani will be in school cafeterias,” Hanna said.

“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,” Nicki Briggs, chief communications officer at Chobani, said in the news release.

New York leads the country in Greek-yogurt production, according to the lawmakers.

The pilot program will test the cost effectiveness of offering high-protein Greek yogurt in the school-lunch program, which feeds 31 million students monthly nationwide, they said.

The Greek-yogurt pilot program is also intended to promote the health benefits of Greek yogurt.  Compared to regular yogurt, Greek yogurt has twice the protein, less sodium, and fewer carbohydrates, the lawmakers said.

If the pilot program is successful in the trial states, Greek yogurt could become a permanent fixture on the USDA Foods List for school meals.  In addition to New York, Tennessee, Idaho, and Arizona will also participate in the pilot program. Chobani, which holds the number one position in market share of Greek yogurt in the U.S., also has a manufacturing plant in Idaho.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com