Skinny turkeys won't go as far in U.S. school lunch program

The problem is not a shortage of birds. They're just too skinny. An unusually hot summer resulted in smaller turkeys. That means supplies are tight, which means prices are a bit higher.

"Even though we've put out word we want to buy turkey, they're not selling it to USDA," said Billy Cox, spokesman for the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Supermarkets generally get first dibs on turkey and other commodities. When there is a surplus or prices are low enough, the Agriculture Department buys some and passes it along to government-subsidized food programs, like school lunches.

While the department is not providing turkey, schools aren't necessarily going without. "We didn't change the menu," said Shirley Cox, food and nutrition director for Texarkana, Ark., public schools. "We just went ahead and bought turkey for 3,500 to 4,000 meals."

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Source: North Jersey

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