How do you get students to drink 3,700,000 more milk servings in just one year? I suggest asking Gary Petill, Food Services Director for the San Diego Unified Schools.
Gary accomplished this goal for the 2005-06 school year by introducing enhanced milk programs throughout the district at both elementary and secondary levels.
Secondary programs were enhanced with the addition of milk chugs sold a la carte. Priced affordably at $1.00 or made part of combos, they sold quickly. He also encouraged secondary schools to implement daily morning breakfast breaks which included milk. IN the past, elementary students had been allowed to take juice instead of milk. He implemented a new policy and student milk consumption skyrocketed.
An added bonus was that food costs actually DECLINED as a result of this plan.
Milk consumption in 2004-05 was 9,768,123 half-pint cartons. In 2005-06, 13,525,881 cartons were consumed, an increase of over 38%. We did not have milk chugs prior to 2005-06 but during that year we sold 64,818 chugs of various flavors. Obviously, students were very happy with this selection.
These changes were implemented in 2005-06 and continue during this school year. Submitted on behalf of Gary Petill.
Gary was nominted by Sally Spero, Food Planning Supervisor, San Diego Unified Schools District.
