May 26, 2005

Milk a big moo-ver in school vending machines

RICHMOND—With another school year almost over, one thing is clear: Dairy vending is making the grade.

Several school systems throughout Virginia committed to adding dairy vending machines into their schools this year. The machines, which can be used to sell anything from flavored milk to string cheese to yogurt, are gaining in popularity as a healthy alternative for students who might be tempted by high-calorie, low-nutrition soft drinks and snacks.

“At this point, the most action in dairy vending is in Southwest Virginia,” said Janet Grubbs, manager of communications and nutrition for the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association. “Pulaski, Wythe and Carroll counties are the three most active in dairy vending. They seem to be very successful.”

Botetourt County was the first locality in Virginia to place dairy vending machines on school campuses in 2000. The city of Roanoke placed machines in both of its high schools in 2002 and added them to its junior highs and two largest elementary schools the following year. Hanover, Henrico and Franklin counties followed suit.

The Carroll County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and Young Farmer Committee were instrumental in getting a machine installed in Carroll County High School. Women’s Committee member Jeanie Crater indicated the effort was worthwhile.

“We’re getting ready to put another one in,” she said. “And we’re working with the Grayson County (Farm Bureau) Young Farmer Committee to get machines installed in Grayson County High School and Galax High School. It’s been a huge success. The kids love it.”

Crater, who operates Crater’s Dairy in Woodlawn with her husband Johnny, obtained grant money from SUDIA to help fund the original machine and sought donations from other agricultural groups like Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Dairy Farmers of America and Southern States. The $4,100 vending machine cost the school nothing, and money for the new machines will be raised the same way. Meanwhile, money spent on vending purchases go back into the community.

“The FFA students stock the machine and get half the profits,” Crater said. “Since we put it in last August, the FFA has received $1,600, which means the machine has made a profit of about $3,200.” On top of that, many of the machines are stocked with local dairy products. Carroll’s supply comes from United Dairy of Galax, while the Roanoke and Botetourt machines are stocked in part from Roanoke’s Valley Rich Dairy.

“I think what you’re going to see with schools is that they’re going to take a stronger look at what they’re selling students, due to the federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act that goes into effect in July 2006,” Grubbs said. “The act requires schools to have wellness policies, including a nutrition policy. Schools will be encouraged to eliminate the sale of non-nutritious foods, and many school districts are taking positive steps right now to limit access to snack and soda machines.”

Henrico County has dairy vending in nine middle schools, where soda machines are prohibited. Debbie McFee, the food director for Henrico County Schools, said that Dennis Foods of Chesapeake provides the machines, which also are located in all eight county high schools. As in Carroll County, the machines cost the county little.

“Dennis Foods stocks the machines and gives Henrico a percentage of the profits,” McFee said. “Because of health ramifications, we wanted to make sure the kids had access to healthy alternatives.”

Demand for dairy vending should continue to grow in popularity as word of both the economic and health benefits spread throughout the state.

“We get two or three calls every month from food service directors or dairy farmers asking what they can do” to get the machines in their schools, Grubbs said. “Everybody is going to benefit from this, especially if the students are getting more milk.”

Contact Grubbs at 800-845-6112, Crater at 540-728-4828, McFee at 804-652-3969 or Ambler at 804-365-4566.