The USDA recommends a daily intake of more than 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day; that's three and half 8 oz. glasses of milk, a pound of almonds, or almost two pounds of cooked greens.

Dr. Jon Dickinson, a partner in the California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine practice in San Francisco and a former Woodside resident, has developed what he thinks will be an alternate source of calcium: fruit tea.

Dr. Dickinson and his business partner, Wyck Hay, a co-founder of Celestial Seaonings, have created Osteo, a juice and tea beverage that nutrition labels claim contains 50 percent of the USDA recommendation of calcium.

In his orthopaedic practice, Dr. Dickinson has seen many patients with injuries or conditions stemming from weakened bones, which he attributes to calcium deficiencies.

"Osteoporosis is a big problem in the U.S., an emerging problem," he says. "Women are more likely to get an osteoporotic fracture than breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined."

"Eight to nine years ago," he continues, "I thought it would be a good idea to produce a beverage to deliver calcium. Since then, manufacturers have added calcium to everything from orange juice to chips and crackers.

"The calcium they're adding is most often calcium carbonate, which is insoluble in water and leaves precipitate at the bottom of a container. In attempts to avoid this, Dr. Dickinson bought chemicals, pH meters and equipment and turned his kitchen into a chemistry lab.

"I worked in my kitchen to increase the solubility of calcium," he explains, adding, "my kids were my test dummies until I finally came up with a combination that tasted good.

"Dr. Dickinson let his idea and product hibernate for a couple of years, until he read a San Francisco Chronicle article on Wyck Hay and KaBoom, a new energy drink Mr. Hay developed in his Woodside garage.

Dr. Dickinson remembers approaching Mr. Hay, who had recently sold KaBoom, with the idea for a calcium-enriched beverage. Mr. Hay liked the idea, and soon, says Dr. Dickinson, they started working on production strategies. The recipe and formula were perfected, and then the fun began.

"The first production run was in the spring of 2007," says Dr. Dickinson. "Then, in August, the product arrived and was first sold on the Peninsula at Roberts market." Osteo is now sold at Biachini's and Draeger's as well.

Dr. Dickinson chose Roberts because of his strong ties to the market and to Woodside.

"I grew up in Woodside," he says. "My father was born there in 1911; I went to Woodside schools; I was even a bag boy at Roberts in high school."

Based on consumer feedback, Dr. Dickinson and Mr. Hay have begun a second stage of development. Dr. Dickinson says they are working on a low-calorie version of Osteo and a second product targeted at a younger audience.

"Osteoporosis is thought to be a problem for older people," he says, "but its root is in young people; over 75 percent of children don't get enough calcium. You put bone into the skeleton until the age of 20 to 21; after that, it's a downhill slope."

"You have to start with strong bones, he says, to survive the natural bone loss that comes later."