The Summer Food Service Program, also known as the Summer Meals Program, was established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. When school is out, SFSP provides free meals to kids and teens in low-income areas. Schools and non-profit organizations throughout North Dakota have the opportunity to provide meals to children
USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our nutrition programs.
Waivers Submitted to the USDA for Summer 2024 SFSP Operations
Waiver Approval
- Waivers related to excess heat and air quality advisories:
- Waiver 1: Non-congregate meal service for outdoor sites
- Waiver 2: Parent/Guardian meal pick up for outdoor sites opting into Waiver 1
- Waiver 3: Meal service times for outdoor sites
- Waiver 1: Non-congregate meal service for outdoor sites
- Waiver for non-SFA sponsors to utilize offer versus serve:
- Waiver 7: Offer Versus Serve
- Waiver 7: Offer Versus Serve
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. Summer meals are critical in the lives of millions of our nation’s youth, whose risk for food insecurity increases during the summer months when they no longer have access to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program. Summer meal programs, including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) within the NSLP, present the opportunity to help alleviate summertime food insecurity and positively impact children’s growth and development by offering nutritious meals and encouraging children to develop healthy habits at a young age. High-quality summer meals provide daily energy and help ensure children are healthy and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall. The Turnip the Beet Award was created to showcase sponsors who go above and beyond to ensure that children in their care receive high-quality meals that are both nutritious and appetizing.
To learn more about the Turnip the Beet Award, visit the USDA Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/turnip-the-beet or watch the Turnip the Beet training: https://youtu.be/PNsrnanM5lY
To access the application for the Turnip the Beet Award, click on the following:
Sponsors operating SFSP during the summer of 2023 can apply for this award. The form must be completed, submitted, and include a one-month menu to dpicnfd@nd.gov.
Submissions are due August 1, 2023