10/13/06 Idaho food products in Idaho schools

Using Idaho grown food in public schools has reached record high levels. What started two years ago as a pilot program in two schools now encompasses 28 elementary schools in the Meridian district and another 25 outside that area. Governor Jim Risch marked the accomplishment yesterday with a "Healthy Harvest" celebration at one Meridian elementary school where the lunch menu included Idaho baked potatoes, fresh local apples, peaches and pears along with milk produced by Idaho dairymen. In Meridian, the state's largest school district, students enjoy one thousand gallons of milk each day at school breakfast and lunch. Statewide a half million gallons of milk are consumed each month in Idaho schools. Speaking of schools and drinks, kudos to the University of Idaho's Brian Huber and other students who developed a ready-to-drink bubble tea that is enhanced with beneficial organisms. Huber, a food science senior from Gooding captained the team, which will receive ten thousand dollars for winning a national food product development contest. The team's two green-tea reformulated drinks, Pearls of Wisdom and PandaBerry could show up on store shelves within a couple of years. The sweet fruit flavored bubble teas originated in Asia but are becoming popular along the West Coast. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott