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‘Turnip the Beet’ Recognizes High-Quality Summer Meals for our Nation’s Kids

Posted by Cindy Long, Deputy Administrator for Child Nutrition Program, Food and Nutrition Service in Food and Nutrition
Apr 20, 2018
USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps with Turnip the Beet winner, Idea Public Schools
USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps with Turnip the Beet winner, Idea Public Schools in San Antonio, TX on April 20, 2018.

There are millions of America’s youth who do not have access to nutritious meals when school is not in session. Offering nutritious meals to our nation’s children and teens that are appetizing, appealing and wholesome is a responsibility USDA takes very seriously.

Our key partners in serving our summer feeding customers are the organizations that sponsor feeding sites in neighborhoods across the Nation. To recognize the important role of these sponsors, USDA recently announced the second annual Turnip the Beet awards. The honors celebrate the outstanding contribution of those who work so tirelessly to offer nutritious and appealing summer meals for children that meet the needs of families and local communities, and enable our young people to thrive when school is out for the summer.

The program isn’t just about making sure that those in need have enough food to eat. Consistent access to nutritious food through USDA meal programs can provide important support for a child’s growth and development. Providing nutritious meals and encouraging healthy habits at a young age can help make children more likely to succeed in the future. High quality summer meals provide children with energy that prepares them to learn when they return to school in the fall.

Turnip the Beet showcases sponsors of the Summer Meal Programs that have gone above and beyond to ensure their meals are both nutritious and appetizing, and meet the needs of their local communities and customers. Sponsors demonstrated excellence in a variety of ways, including: serving fresh fruit daily; conducting taste tests with the children (and incorporating the feedback into the menus); and offering nutrition education activities along with the meals.

And so, as we head into another summer, we congratulate the 2017 Turnip the Beet winners, and encourage all of our program partners to partner with us to serve nutritious summer meals that meet the needs and tastes of children close to home. USDA plans to host the Turnip the Beet awards again in 2018; information on criteria and nominations will be available later this year.

 

2017 Turnip the Beet Winners

 

Alabama

Alexander City Schools Child Nutrition Program

Silver

 

City of Dothan

Silver

 

Feeding the Gulf Coast

Silver

Alaska

Petersburg School District

Gold

California

Hesperia Unified School District

Gold

 

Lakeside Union School District

Silver

 

United Way California Capital Region

Silver

Colorado

Canon City Schools

Gold

 

Colorado Springs School District 11

Gold

Connecticut

Branford Public Schools

Silver

Delaware

Colonial School District

Silver

 

Seaford School District

Silver

Florida

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Silver

 

Flipany

Gold

Georgia

Fulton County School Nutrition Program

Silver

 

Carrollton City Schools

Silver

 

Wayne County Board of Education

Silver

 

Warren County School Nutrition

Gold

 

Banks County School Nutrition

Silver

 

Cherokee County School Nutrition

Silver

 

Coffee County Schools

Silver

 

Carroll County School Nutrition

Silver

 

Dougherty County School Nutrition

Silver

 

Baldwin Country Schools

Silver

 

Floyd County

Silver

 

Douglas County School Nutrition

Gold

 

Muscogee County School Nutrition Program

Silver

 

Rockdale County Schools

Silver

 

Marietta City Schools

Silver

 

Dublin City Schools

Silver

Illinois

Northern Illinois Food Bank

Silver

 

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Gold

Indiana

Food Finders Food Bank

Silver

 

IPFW Multicultural Services - Upward Bound

Silver

 

Perry Township Schools

Silver

 

SON Ministries, Inc.

Silver

 

City of Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department

Silver

Iowa

Saydel Community School District

Gold

 

Council Bluffs Community School District

Gold

Kentucky

Owensboro Public Schools

Silver

Maine

Maine Migrant Education Program

Silver

Maryland

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Silver

 

Caroline County Public Schools

Silver

 

Carroll County Public Schools

Silver

Massachusetts

Brockton Public Schools

Silver

Michigan

Bridgman Public Schools

Silver

 

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

Silver

 

South Haven Public Schools

Silver

 

Monroe Family YMCA

Silver

 

Montrose Community Schools

Silver

 

Fenton Area Public Schools

Silver

 

Kent City Schools

Silver

 

Oxford Community Schools

Silver

 

Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency

Silver

 

Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Silver

Missouri

Doniphan RI Schools

Silver

 

Douglass Community Services

Silver

 

St. John Community Improvement Corporation

Silver

North Carolina

Buncombe County Schools

Gold

 

Caldwell County Schools

Silver

 

Carteret County Schools

Silver

 

Johnston County Public Schools School Nutrition

Silver

 

Kirk of Kildaire

Gold

 

Moore Street Foundation

Silver

 

YMCA of Western NC

Gold

Oklahoma

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

Silver

Pennsylvania

Project Share of Carlisle

Gold

 

Camp Garrett

Gold

South Dakota

Huron School District

Silver

Texas

Austin ISD

Silver

 

Smithville ISD

Silver

 

Florence ISD

Silver

 

Idea Academy

Silver

Tennessee

Morgan County School Nutrition Program

Gold

Virginia

Neighborhood Resource Center

Silver

Wisconsin

Brown Deer School District

Silver

 

Green Bay Area Public Schools

Silver

 

Pulaski School District

Silver

 

Stevens Point Area School District

Gold

 

University Hospital and Clinics

Silver

 

UW Hospitals and Clinics

Silver

Category/Topic: Food and Nutrition