1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Department” means the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
   2. (2) “Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program” or “FMNP” means the Senior FMNP and the WIC FMNP.
   3. (3) “Local agency” means a nonprofit entity or local government agency that certifies eligible SFMNP recipients, issues SFMNP coupons, or provides nutrition education or information on operational aspects of the SFMNP to SFMNP recipients.
   4. (4) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

   5. (5) “Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program” or “SFMNP” means the Federal-State partnership between USDA and the Department in which USDA provides federal funds to the Department to administer a program designed to:

      1. (a) Provide SFMNP recipients access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs; and
      2. (b) Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities through farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agricultural programs.
   6. (6) “SFMNP recipient” means an individual, as defined under 7 CFR §249.6, as amended, who is eligible to receive benefits under the SFMNP.
   7. (7) “USDA” means the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

   8. (8) “WIC FMNP” means a Federal-State partnership that USDA has with the Department in which USDA provides federal funds to the Department to administer a program designed to:

      1. (a) Provide WIC FMNP recipients access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs; and
      2. (b) Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities through farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agricultural programs.
   9. (9) “WIC FMNP recipient” means a pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman, postpartum woman, infant, or child who is receiving benefits under the Program, and the breastfed infant of a breastfeeding woman participant under the WIC Program authorized under §17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended.

Authority: Agriculture Article, §2-103, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.11 adopted as an emergency provision effective September 10, 2021 (48:19 Md. R. 799); emergency provision expired effective March 8, 2022

Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective April 4, 2022 (49:7 Md. R. 469)

Regulation .01 amended effective January 22, 2024 (51:1 Md. R. 16)

Regulation .02B amended effective January 22, 2024 (51:1 Md. R. 16)

Regulation .03B amended effective January 22, 2024 (51:1 Md. R. 16)

Regulation .05 amended effective January 22, 2024 (51:1 Md. R. 16)

Regulation .07A, B, C amended effective January 22, 2024 (51:1 Md. R. 16)

Regulation .09 amended effective January 22, 2024 (51:1 Md. R. 16)