Notice2026-19548
Agency Information Collection Activities: Turnip the Beet High Quality Summer Meals Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 24, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for recognizing program sponsors' nutrition efforts in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60573-60575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19548]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Turnip the Beet High
Quality Summer Meals Program
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision
of a currently approved collection for recognizing program sponsors'
nutrition efforts in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 23,
2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing by one of the following
methods: Online (preferred): Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically;
or Mail: Nancy Brenowitz, Community Meals Policy Division, Child
Nutrition Programs, USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, 5601
Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Nancy
Brenowitz, Community Meals Policy Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue,
Beltsville, MD 20705 at 703-605-4336.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
[[Page 60574]]
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Title: Turnip the Beet High Quality Summer Meals Program.
Form Number: Not applicable. There is an application and a
checklist involved with this program.
OMB Number: 0584-0658.
Expiration Date: 11/30/2026.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and National
School Lunch Program (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO) were
established to ensure that children and teens continue to receive
nutritious meals when school is not in session. Turnip the Beet is a
voluntary award initiative to recognize participating sponsoring
organizations (program sponsors) that work hard to offer high quality,
nutritious meals during the summer months.
The purpose of this voluntary recognition initiative is to
encourage summer meal program sponsors to offer higher quality,
nutritious meals that make a positive impact on children's healthy
development. This information collection allows the Food and Nutrition
Administration (FNA) to more accurately assess the quality of meal
service in order to determine whether the individual sponsor qualifies
for recognition, and at what level.
The Turnip the Beet award is presented at three levels (bronze,
silver, and gold) to sponsors providing meals that are appetizing,
appealing, and nutritious. The award is open to all program sponsors
across the nation who are in good standing, including SFSP sponsors and
NSLP/SSO sponsors. All nominated sponsors must be in compliance with
SFSP or NSLP/SSO regulations, as applicable.
The sponsor must complete and submit an application form and submit
one-month menus for all meals served, to their summer meals State
agency contact. Menus should provide sufficient detail to judge whether
they meet award criteria; for example, a menu should describe whether
fruits and vegetables are fresh, frozen, canned or dried, as well as
identify whole grain-rich and local food items. Sponsors may choose to
submit other supporting documents to further demonstrate the quality of
their meals, such as news clips about the program, photos,
testimonials, or invoices of local food purchases.
The nominations will be submitted to State agencies, which have the
discretion to choose their internal submission due dates. The State
agency contacts will ensure the sponsor: (1) participated in SFSP or
SSO in the award year; (2) is in good standing with no major findings
or all corrective actions are complete and implemented; (3) was not
found seriously deficient in the past two years, at the time of the
application, and has never been terminated from the summer meal
programs; and (4) provided menus that meet meal pattern requirements.
The State agency can also provide an optional statement of support for
the applicant.
All applications must be forwarded by the State agency contact to
their Regional Office at a set date following the program year. FNA
will notify the winners in writing early the following calendar year.
Depending on the award level attained, sponsors will receive a
certificate from FNA and will be featured on the FNA website.
FNA estimates that the burden for this collection will increase
from the burden in the last renewal. FNA estimates that the number of
respondents submitting nominations will increase by 66 respondents for
this revision, from 186 to 252 respondents. That in turn will increase
the responses by 100, from 300 to 400 responses, and increase the
burden hours by 75, from 225 to 300 hours.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit/not for profit and
State, Local, and Tribal Government. Respondent groups identified
include Sponsors and State agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 252. For program year 2027, FNA expects nominations from
200 sponsors in 52 States and territories.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The estimated number
of responses per respondent across the entire collection is 1.59.
Sponsors will voluntarily complete one nomination packet for the
program year. State agencies will review each nomination received from
sponsors in their respective states one time; State agencies are
expected to receive an average of 3.846 nominations each.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: FNA expects 200 nominations from
sponsors, which will then be reviewed by State agencies. The total
annual responses are 400.
Estimated Time per Response: The total estimated time per response
across the entire collection is 45 minutes (.75 hours). The estimated
response time varies from 30 to 60 minutes per nomination, depending on
respondent group. FNA estimates it will take each sponsor approximately
1 hour to complete the nomination form, compile other supplemental
information, and submit the nomination packet to the State agency. FNA
estimates it will take each reviewing State agency approximately 30
minutes to review each nomination packet and complete a one-page
checklist to verify that the nominees are eligible for the award. The
table below illustrates the burden on both sponsors and State agencies.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 300 hours. See the
table below for estimated total annual burden for each type of
respondent.
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Estimated
Estimated Responses average
Respondent number of annually per Total annual number of Estimated
respondents respondent responses hours per total hours
response
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Reporting Burden:
Program Sponsors (Businesses)... 200 1.00 200 1.00 200.00
State Agency Employees.......... 52 3.846153846 200 0.50 100.00
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Total Reporting Burden...... 252 1.59 400 .75 300.00
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[[Page 60575]]
Shiela Corley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-19548 Filed 9-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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