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National Ag Day: Where Was the Food On Your Plate Grown?

Posted by Angie Tagtow, Executive Director, USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in Food and Nutrition
Feb 21, 2017
MyPlate, MyState graphic
MyPlate, MyState, a celebration of hometown goodness and healthy eating styles. More details coming soon!

March is National Nutrition Month. Throughout the month, USDA will be highlighting results of our efforts to improve access to safe, healthy food for all Americans and supporting the health of our next generation.

Recently, the Let’s Move! campaign issued its annual call for kids to enter original recipes into the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.  One winner from each state will be selected to attend the 2016 Kids “State Dinner” at the White House, where a selection of the winning recipes will be served. This year, the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is putting a spotlight on homegrown pride and encouraging entries from across the country that include ingredients grown in your state, territory, or community, celebrating MyPlate, MyState.

From farm to fork, agriculture and nutrition are integrally linked. And every state in the U.S. can play an important role in helping Americans eat healthfully. Thanks to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the maps below show where foods from every MyPlate food group are grown. If you have a child between ages 8 to 12, consider having them enter a recipe into the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge. The deadline for entries is April 4. And stay tuned for more on MyPlate, MyState from CNPP – we’ll have more activities for everyone next month!

The Grains map
This map includes the following commonly eaten grains: oats, popcorn, rice, rye, wheat. Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture.
The Vegetables map
This map includes the following commonly eaten vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, avocados, bell peppers, green lima beans, snap beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, cucumbers, pickles, eggplant, escaroles, endives, lettuce, okra, onions, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, squash, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips and watercress. Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture.
The Protein map
This map includes the following commonly eaten proteins: chickens, cattle and calves, ducks, geese, hogs, sheep and lambs, turkeys, eggs, lentils, almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, walnuts, catfish, trout, other food fish. Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture.
The Fruits map
This map includes the following commonly eaten fruits: apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, grapefruits, grapes, honeydews, kiwifruits, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plum-apricot hybrids, plums, peaches, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, temple oranges and watermelons. Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture.
The Dairy map
This map includes the following commonly eaten dairy item: milk. Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture.

For more information about the Census of Agriculture and these maps, check out this blog from the National Agricultural Statistics Service: #AgCensus and MyPlate Serve up Lessons in Math, Nutrition, and More.

Category/Topic: Food and Nutrition
Tags: #AgCensus #nationalnutritionmonth Census of Agriculture CNPP Let's Move MyPlate NASS National Nutrition Month Nutrition White House

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Comments

Mary Hughes
Mar 18, 2016

I think this is a great idea. I have grandchildren in two different states between the required ages who make and take their school lunches.how would they submit entries?

Stanyetta Brown
Sep 28, 2020

According to this map, Michigan grows a little of all categories. Fruits, Veggies, and protein is found on this map of Greatness. When learning where your food is grown, you have better outlook on what foods you can get fresh and what's going to be frozen. This was something I didn't know because I'm from Chicago,IL so I was use to meat markets, slaughter houses, and fish markets. There is more fresh veggies markets here in kalamazoo and that's something i've grown to appreciate.