“Lettuce turnip the beet” (let us turn up the beat) is a jocular line that has been printed on many images. “I’m a musical vegetarian. I always ask my girl to lettuce, turnip, the beets!” was cited on Twitter on May 5, 2009.
 
New York designer Elektra Printz Gorski filed a trademark (with a first date in commerce of June 1, 2011) and began selling T-shirts in New York’s Soho and online. Gorski has filed lawsuits to protect the trademark, although the short phrase had been cited many times before 2011.
 
 
Twitter
Jay
‏@bjaynash
I’m a musical vegetarian. I always ask my girl to lettuce, turnip, the beets!
12:28 PM - 5 May 2009
 
Twitter
Raw Food Diet Tweets
‏@RawTweets
Raw Diet GoogleFeed: Lettuce Turnip the Beet!: 3-Day Raw Food .. http://tinyurl.com/nvotfo
11:09 PM - 12 Jun 2009
 
Twitter
The Royal Kush Band
‏@RoyalKushBand
@classified lettuce turnip the beets
11:20 AM - 26 Jun 2009
 
Twitter
Rae Okino
‏@raeokino
Home in the Bay for a sec… i got inspiration in my heart and music on my mind, lettuce turnip the beats and sea veggies what happens!
2:48 PM - 20 Oct 2009
 
Twitter
gott zero
‏@godzero
Lettuce Turnip Beets Vol. 1 http://bit.ly/73BG90 via @SoundCloud widget
12:33 AM - 25 Jan 2010
 
Twitter
Mary Jane
‏@MaryJaneEllen
LETTUCE TURNIP THE BEET!
12:16 PM - 20 May 2010
 
1 November 2010, Targeted News Service (Washington, DC), SLU Earns High Grade on Sustainability ‘Report Card’:
St. Lawrence University issued the following news release:
(...)
* New students are introduced to sustainability through post-orientation programming and environmentally themed student housing is available. Students participate in an annual energy conservation competition, and groups such as the Environmental Action Organization and Lettuce Turnip the Beet work to raise campus awareness of sustainability issues, including local food and climate change.
 
Twitter
theYans
‏@whYpoli
Best T-shirt slogan seen today: Lettuce Turnip The Beet. #awesome
11:33 AM - 19 Sep 2011
 
Google Books
Farms with a Future:
Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business
By Rebecca Thistlethwaite
White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing
2012
Pg, 161:
One of the best farm names I have seen in my travels (sorry, it is already taken) is “Lettuce Turnip the Beet,” an organic vegetable farm in California.
   
BNA
T-Shirt’s Short, Pun-Filled Phrase Is Not Protected by Copyright; Hipsters Mourn
From Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily™
By Tamlin H. Bason  
July 18—The phrase “lettuce turnip the beet” contains no protectable elements, the Northern District of California said July 16, dismissing a copyright infringement claim based on “infringing” sales of t-shirts featuring the phrase.
 
The plaintiff, an individual who has sold “lettuce turnip the beet” emblazoned clothing online since 2011, owns a copyright on a t-shirt design featuring the phrase. However, the court said that the only similarities alleged in the complaint, asserted against popular children’s clothier Gymboree, focused on how both parties’ t-shirt designs used the same phrase. Since short phrases, however clever, are not protected by copyright the court granted Gymboree’s motion to dismiss.
(...)
Elektra Printz Gorski claims that she first began selling t-shirts featuring the phrase in 2011. She has sold the clothes in the SoHo neighborhood of New York and through online websites such as http://www.etsy.com.
 
Google Books
Title Lettuce Turnip the Beet: Colors, Counting and Corny Jokes from the Farm Market
Compiled by Kelly Nogoski
Illustrated by Kelly Nogoski
Publisher Experience Early Learning Company, 2015
ISBN 1937954226, 9781937954222
   
July 2015, Highlights for Children, “Riddles,” pg. 38, col. 3:
1 What did you say at the garden party?
Ryan Gans, Florida
Answers: 1. “Lettuce turnip the beet!”
   
Daily Mail (UK)
Award-winning artist is suing Australian retail chain Cotton On for ‘knocking off’ her ‘lettuce turnip the beet’ slogan t-shirt
. US Designer Elektra Printz Gorski is suing Australian chain Cotton On
. She claims Cotton On ripped off her design LETTUCE TURNIP THE BEET
. Ms Gorski has accused the chain of infringing her copyright and trademark
. Ms Gorski started selling T-shirts, prints and stickers with the logo in 2011
By HARRY PEARL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 20:23 EST, 17 May 2016 | UPDATED: 01:27 EST, 18 May 2016
   
Smart Company (Australia)
Cotton On accused of ripping off New York designer’s “Lettuce Turnip the Beet” slogan: Where to from here?
BROEDE CARMODY /  Friday, May 20 2016
A designer from the United States has accused Cotton On Group of ripping off her designs and is dragging the Australian retail giant to court for alleged damages.
 
Elektra Printz Gorski, from New York, sells a number of t-shirts, singlets and stickers online with the slogan “lettuce turnip the beet” printed on them.
 
Gorski’s designs have even been worn by celebrities such as Madonna, according to her Etsy store.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark LETTUCE TURNIP THE BEET
Goods and Services IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Paper for wrapping and packaging. FIRST USE: 20110501. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20110601
IC 018. US 001 002 003 022 041. G & S: Tote bags. FIRST USE: 20110501. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20110601
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Wearable garments and clothing, namely, shirts. FIRST USE: 20110501. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20110601
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 85437835
Filing Date October 3, 2011
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition September 11, 2012
Registration Number 4297108
International Registration Number 1227038
Registration Date March 5, 2013
Owner (REGISTRANT) Elektra Printz Gorski INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES Apt. 4H 815 W. 181st Street New York NEW YORK 10033
Attorney of Record Joseph T. Kucala, Jr.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE