Healthy vending machines won't be ready for schools

August 7, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Mat-Su students will have to wait a few weeks after school starts before hundreds of healthy vending machines are up and running throughout the district.

Filled with juices, fruit and healthy snacks, the new machines are replacing soda and candy machines as part of the Mat-Su School District's attempt to encourage healthy eating. The bidding process, however, is running a little behind the school start date of Sept. 6.

Jack Sherman, the district's assistant superintendent of business, said the ongoing bidding process puts a high priority on Alaskan drinks and snacks.

"We've asked that those who are bidding include as many Alaskan products as possible, that gets extra points," he told school board members Wednesday.

The new approach to vending machines includes at least one machine, a pilot project of the Alaska Farm Bureau, that will contain exclusively Alaskan Grown products. Mini-carrots, cheese curds, milk and potato chips have been mentioned as potential products for the pilot machine.

Sherman said venders are aware of the Alaskan Grown machine but the details are not yet finalized.

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266, or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.