The goal of this dept. is to educate our children in making correct choices

Foodservices at the Albuquerque, NM, public schools will test vending machines containing milk, juice and healthy snacks in two middle schools this fall, with plans to roll out 60 more throughout the district.

James Jordan, fsd, says the machines will vend chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk, non-flavored milk, juice and snacks, such as prepackaged sliced apples and carrots packaged with ranch dressing. Milk will account for about 75% of the selection.

Healthy competition: Foodservices will place the machines in high-traffic areas adjacent to existing Pepsi machines, which are managed by the schools themselves and not the f/s department. Jordan says he does not expect that the machines will cannibalize Pepsi or school cafeteria sales. However, he adds that the vending machines have the potential to generate brisk sales and capture a new audience. He is confident that students will be attracted to the new product mix despite the availability of other snacks and beverages.

"Based on research and what we've seen in other districts, [the machines] pretty much go head to head—although, initially the new machines will sell like wild fire," he says.

Jordan says he developed the idea for the "healthy vending" program as an alternative funding source that schools can draw on for programs and supplies. All profits will go to the schools.

He also sees this program as a way to enforce good eating habits in Albuquerque students. "I feel it is the goal of this department to properly educate our children in making correct choices in the foods they eat," he explains.

The equipment: The machines, which are owned and operated by the department, have 48 fronts and hold 288 items. And the department was aiming to keep the price of all items at a maximum of a dollar.

The machines cost approx. $3,000 each, and the f/s is receiving a $1,000 grant from Dairy Max, a regional dairy farmers promotion program, for each of the two pilot machines.

Jordan anticipates the machines will pay for themselves in about two years. "We've done our homework, and hopefully it'll work out."

Spread the word: He says word-of-mouth will be the program's primary form of promotion, with the two middle schools being the first examples of how the new machines are received by students. He predicts that although schools are not required to participate, positive feedback from schools that do will serve as ample motivation to others. The program is initially being targeted toward the upper grade schools, but Jordan says "it's too good not to get into all the schools!"

The revamped vending product mix already has support from the principals of the schools, as well as parents, who see it as good effort toward ensuring students have healthy options. At presstime, Jordan anticipated that the district would order more machines two to four at a time, as schools request them.