US News

Sochi yogurt going to NY’s needy… but they don’t want it

New York’s homeless masses are sour on Chobani yogurt.

The 5,000-plus cups of the Greek yogurt that were supposed to be sent to the Sochi Olympics but were denied by Russian customs will instead be donated to New York City food pantries — but they are a tough sell, workers said on Thursday.

“They look at it and go, ‘Eww.’ They never ate something like it before. [They] are used to the sweet yogurt,” said Debbie Torres, a kitchen worker at Food Bank For New York City, which will receive loads of Chobani this week.

“I educate them. I tell them to put some granola in the Chobani… I say, ‘Try it!’” said Torres, adding the West Harlem food pantry has been given cups of the yogurt in the past.

The creamy snack caused a stir last week when Russian officials blocked cases of it bound for the US Olympic Team in Sochi, claiming the U.S. Department of Agriculture didn’t have a proper certificate for shipping dairy products.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) then took a stand, imploring the Russians to let the shipment through while pointing out the yogurt would not be for sale.

But Schumer backed down on Thursday, explaining stubborn Russians officials simply won’t budge.

Instead, the yogurt, which was stored in a refrigerator at the airport, will go to Saint John’s Soup Kitchen in New Jersey and to the Food Bank For New York City, Schumer said.

“While we did not prevail, there is a silver — or gold — lining in the news that the yogurt will be donated to hungry men, women and children in New York and New Jersey,” Schumer said in a statement.

Some food pantry visitors on Thursday said they would at least give the yogurt brand a try.

“I used to see it in the store but didn’t buy it because I didn’t know how it tasted. But then I tried it and found out it was really good,” said Mary Peoples, 73, of Harlem.

“The flavors are good. I like the plain, the strawberry and the blueberry,” she said.

Chobani, which sponsors the US Olympic Team, will likely deliver the yogurt to food pantries and soup kitchens in New York and New Jersey Friday, a spokesman for the firm said.

“It’s been a long, cold winter and we’re happy [to be] able to serve fresh cups of Chobani to those in need,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani.