Turnip the Beet
Texas Award Recipients
Congratulations to our 38 Turnip the Beet winners! These sponsors have earned USDA’s award for going the extra mile in 2023 to provide nutritious and appealing summer meals. They are among an elite group of 141 award-winning sponsors nationwide.
 
GOLD Awardees SILVER Awardees
Birdville ISD
Channelview ISD
Copperas Cove ISD
Duncanville ISD
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
Frankston ISD
Galena Park ISD
Garland ISD
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Kilgore ISD
Lamar CISD
Laredo ISD
Magnolia ISD
Mission CISD
North East ISD
San Antonio ISD
San Marcos CISD
The Right Start Summer Program at TAMUK
Yes Prep Public Schools
Anahuac ISD
Brenham ISD
Brownsville ISD
College Station ISD
Dickinson ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Grand Prairie ISD
Hempstead ISD
Katy ISD
Killeen ISD
Lewisville ISD
Marble Falls ISD
Northwest ISD
Pasadena ISD
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Rio Hondo
Rockdale ISD
South San Antonio ISD
Temple ISD

To earn this recognition, these sponsors served local foods and a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. They served low-fat or fat-free dairy products and culturally-appropriate meals. Hats off for a job well done!

About the Turnip the Beet Award

The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding Summer Meal Program sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. High quality summer meals provide daily energy and help make sure children are healthy and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall. The Turnip the Beet Award program was created to showcase sponsors who are going above and beyond to ensure that children in their care are receiving high-quality meals that are both nutritious and appetizing.


Who is Eligible?
  • All Summer Meal Programs sponsors in good standing, including:
      • Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors
      • National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors


How do Sponsors Apply?
Submit the following to TDA at Nutrition@TexasAgriculture.gov
 
  • 2024 Nomination Form
  • Detailed one-month menu
  • Pictures of meals and activities
  • Invoices indicating whole grain-rich and local products

Resources
New and Updated Resources Coming Soon!

TDA's Turnip the Beet Application Tips: Informative guide with Turnip the Beet guidelines, deadlines, and tips to receive the highest award possible.

USDA Turnip the Beet Page: USDA Food and nutrition has and abundance of resource available to help create more appetizing, appealing, and nutritious summer meals.

Turnip the Beet Best Practices - 
Find best practices and menu ideas from some of our winners.



Turnip the Beet Overview
 

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
 

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
 

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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