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.
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2017 Turnip the Beet Winners |
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Alabama |
Alexander City Schools Child Nutrition Program |
Silver |
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City of Dothan |
Silver |
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Feeding the Gulf Coast |
Silver |
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Alaska |
Petersburg School District |
Gold |
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California |
Hesperia Unified School District |
Gold |
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Lakeside Union School District |
Silver |
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United Way California Capital Region |
Silver |
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Colorado |
Canon City Schools |
Gold |
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Colorado Springs School District 11 |
Gold |
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Connecticut |
Branford Public Schools |
Silver |
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Delaware |
Colonial School District |
Silver |
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Seaford School District |
Silver |
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Florida |
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida |
Silver |
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Flipany |
Gold |
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Georgia |
Fulton County School Nutrition Program |
Silver |
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Carrollton City Schools |
Silver |
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Wayne County Board of Education |
Silver |
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Warren County School Nutrition |
Gold |
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Banks County School Nutrition |
Silver |
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Cherokee County School Nutrition |
Silver |
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Coffee County Schools |
Silver |
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Carroll County School Nutrition |
Silver |
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Dougherty County School Nutrition |
Silver |
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Baldwin Country Schools |
Silver |
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Floyd County |
Silver |
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Douglas County School Nutrition |
Gold |
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Muscogee County School Nutrition Program |
Silver |
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Rockdale County Schools |
Silver |
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Marietta City Schools |
Silver |
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Dublin City Schools |
Silver |
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Illinois |
Northern Illinois Food Bank |
Silver |
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Greater Chicago Food Depository |
Gold |
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Indiana |
Food Finders Food Bank |
Silver |
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IPFW Multicultural Services - Upward Bound |
Silver |
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Perry Township Schools |
Silver |
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SON Ministries, Inc. |
Silver |
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City of Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department |
Silver |
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Iowa |
Saydel Community School District |
Gold |
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Council Bluffs Community School District |
Gold |
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Kentucky |
Owensboro Public Schools |
Silver |
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Maine |
Maine Migrant Education Program |
Silver |
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Maryland |
Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
Silver |
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Caroline County Public Schools |
Silver |
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Carroll County Public Schools |
Silver |
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Massachusetts |
Brockton Public Schools |
Silver |
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Michigan |
Bridgman Public Schools |
Silver |
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Food Bank of Eastern Michigan |
Silver |
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South Haven Public Schools |
Silver |
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Monroe Family YMCA |
Silver |
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Montrose Community Schools |
Silver |
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Fenton Area Public Schools |
Silver |
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Kent City Schools |
Silver |
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Oxford Community Schools |
Silver |
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Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency |
Silver |
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Mattawan Consolidated Schools |
Silver |
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Missouri |
Doniphan RI Schools |
Silver |
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Douglass Community Services |
Silver |
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St. John Community Improvement Corporation |
Silver |
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North Carolina |
Buncombe County Schools |
Gold |
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Caldwell County Schools |
Silver |
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Carteret County Schools |
Silver |
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Johnston County Public Schools School Nutrition |
Silver |
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Kirk of Kildaire |
Gold |
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Moore Street Foundation |
Silver |
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YMCA of Western NC |
Gold |
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Oklahoma |
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma |
Silver |
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Pennsylvania |
Project Share of Carlisle |
Gold |
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Camp Garrett |
Gold |
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South Dakota |
Huron School District |
Silver |
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Texas |
Austin ISD |
Silver |
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Smithville ISD |
Silver |
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Florence ISD |
Silver |
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Idea Academy |
Silver |
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Tennessee |
Morgan County School Nutrition Program |
Gold |
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Virginia |
Neighborhood Resource Center |
Silver |
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Wisconsin |
Brown Deer School District |
Silver |
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Green Bay Area Public Schools |
Silver |
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Pulaski School District |
Silver |
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Stevens Point Area School District |
Gold |
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University Hospital and Clinics |
Silver |
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UW Hospitals and Clinics |
Silver |