Turnip The Beet Award Honors Cherokee Schools' Nutrition Program

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Cherokee County School System has received honors from the United States Department of Agriculture.

This year, 84 school systems and School Food Authorities qualified for either a gold, silver, or
bronze Turnip the Beet 2021 Award. Of those, a dozen from Georgia earned awards, and Cherokee County was one of 10 to earn silver.

The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes Summer Meal Program sponsors who offer high-quality meals that are appetizing, appealing and nutritious.

To be considered for the award, the USDA required Cherokee Schools to complete an application and demonstrate that its team exceeded program requirements to serve high-quality meals to children during the summer months.

According to the USDA, “Nominations must clearly illustrate how the meals are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious. The Nomination Form includes short-answer questions and menu criteria based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The criteria include serving local foods, a variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and low-fat and fat-free milk.”