FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION: SUBJECTS: EFFECTIVE DATE:

8.00 Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program June 1, 2004

8.00A Receipt of FMNP Materials Form 8.00B Has been removed

8.00C Lost or Stolen QR Code Card Report 8.00D Has been removed

Policy and Procedure 8.00

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MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WIC PROGRAM POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL

Policy and Procedure Number: 8.00 Effective Date: June 1, 2014 Revised Date: March 4, 2025 SECTION: FOOD DELIVERY SYSTEM SUBJECT: Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

A. Policy

The purpose of the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is to:

1. Provide resources to women, older infants, and children who are nutritionally at risk to obtain fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers at farmers’ markets and farm stands; and

2. Expand the awareness, use of, and sales to farmers at farmers’ markets and farm stands.

The FMNP provides local agencies with resources, in the form of electronic FMNP benefits, to distribute to eligible WIC participants to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from authorized farmers at farmers’ markets and farm stands.

To be eligible to receive FMNP benefits, WIC participants must be 6 months of age or older at the time of issuance.

B. Procedure

1. Staff Training

The local agency shall train staff annually on FMNP policy and procedures. At a minimum, the training shall include FMNP QR code card security, distribution including eligibility and appropriate nutrition education, staff roles and accountability.

2. Receipt and Storage of WIC FMNP Materials

Upon receiving the WIC FMNP QR code cards, participant brochures and Farmers Market Directories from the Maryland Department of Agriculture

Policy and Procedure 8.00

Page 2 of 4 (MDA) FMNP Coordinator, an authorized WIC local agency staff person shall confirm that the correct number of materials have been delivered. When verified, the receipt form (Attachment 8.00A) shall be completed and returned to the WIC FMNP Coordinator as instructed on the receipt form.

The FMNP QR Code cards shall be stored in a secure manner.

3. Electronic FMNP Benefits Distribution Procedures

The local agency shall:

a. Issue electronic FMNP benefits to eligible WIC participants during the months of June, July, August, and September at food benefit pick up appointments or at special appointments designated for issuing FMNP benefits.

b. Provide nutrition education on the benefits of fresh fruits and

vegetables.

c. Provide instructions to the participant or designee on how to access and redeem their electronic benefits at the farmers’ market; distribute the “Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Participant Information” brochure and the “Farmers’ Market Directory,” and if possible, explain the importance of:

i. arriving at the market at the beginning of the business hours to have the best selection of fresh produce;

ii. walking around the farmers’ market to compare the quality and price of the fresh produce offered; and

iii. using the Maryland Department of Agriculture website to locate the most convenient farmers’ market.

d. Issue a maximum of $30 of WIC FMNP benefits per eligible participant (as availability of FMNP benefits allow).

4. Records/Reports

The distribution and reporting records shall be maintained in the MDA contractors’ management information system (MIS).

The local agency shall:

Policy and Procedure 8.00

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a. Retain the original completed Receipt of FMNP Materials form following the retention schedule in policy and procedure 6.00.

b. Allow State WIC and other state and federal agency staff to review any FMNP records during management evaluations and other audits as requested.

5. Lost or Stolen QR code cards

Any lost or stolen QR code cards shall be reported to the State WIC Office FMNP Coordinator. This applies to cards lost or stolen at the local agency or reported by the WIC participant. The local agency shall complete the FMNP Lost or Stolen QR Code Card Report (Attachment 8.00C) and forward it to the State WIC FMNP Coordinator. A new card can be issued by the clinic or staff may print out a copy of the card for the participant. Staff should encourage a PIN change for security reasons.

6. Returned Benefits

a. If a WIC participant has not used any of their valid FMNP benefits and no longer wants the benefits, they may be issued to another eligible participant. The local agency shall remove the benefits and document the return in the Notes section of the management information system.

b. A WIC participant cannot return partially used FMNP benefits. Clinic staff should encourage the participant to use the remaining benefits.

7. Participant Survey

If instructed by the state agency, the local agency shall distribute a survey to WIC participants who received FMNP benefits to collect data on the impact to the WIC participant.

Attachments:

8.00A Receipt of FMNP Materials Form 8.00B This attachment has been removed

8.00C Lost or Stolen QR Code Card Report

8.00D This attachment has been removed

Policy and Procedure 8.00

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Revisions:

04/11 Revised B. 2.d. to increase the value of the book of checks from $18.00 to $20.00. Revised B.6. to add “When instructed by the State Agency;” added new Attachment 8.00A and renumbered Attachments 8.00A and B to 8.00B and C. 10/13 Changed WIC WINS to management information system. 03/16 Clarify the process for reporting issuance on women to include pregnant, post- partum and breastfeeding women; revised with general grammatical edits and formatting changes; overhauled form 8.0B to include reporting categories of pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women and restructured table so data is more clear and organized; updated Attachment 8.00A and 8.00 C with correct contact information and revised formatting; added new reporting form for agencies to submit more accurate numbers/data to the state agency. 08/18 Updated policy and attachment 8.00D to include distribution of FMNP checks through September per clarification from FNS. Also updated attachment 8.00A with the new MDA, FMNP Administrator contact information. 08/19 Updated maximum dollar value allowed to be issued. 12/19 Revised attachment 8.00A (Receipt of FMNP Materials Form). The form shall now be sent to WIC FMNP Coordinator instead of MDA. 7/20 Updated policy to add required training for agency staff annually on the distribution of FMNP checks to the participants. Clarified that Maryland does not authorize farm markets and that participants are able to redeem FMNP checks at any MD authorized farmer throughout the state operating either at a market or a roadside stand. 7/23 Revised policy to change maximum of 2 books ($60) per family to 1 book maximum ($30) for each eligible participant. 03/25 Revised policy to align with change to electronic benefits issuance. Revised attachments A and C (and renamed) and removed attachments B and D

Attachment 8.00A

Attachment 8.00A

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RECEIPT OF FMNP MATERIALS

Local WIC Agency: ___________________________________________________

Name of person responding: ____________________________________________

Telephone number: ___________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________________________________________________

I acknowledge receipt of the following program materials for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program by this agency:

MATERIALS RECEIVED ALLOTMENT TOTAL RECEIVED DATE RECEIVED QR Code Cards

Participant Info Brochure - English

Participant Info Brochure - Spanish

Farmers Market Directories

Other -

I would like to report the following problems with the materials:

Signature: ________________________________________

Email to the WIC FMNP Coordinator within five (5) business days of receiving the last shipment of FMNP materials. Please do not send multiple forms.

Attachment 8.00B Attachment 8.00B

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Policy and Procedure 8.00B

Has been removed.

Attachment 8.00C Attachment 8.00C

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Maryland WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

Lost or Stolen QR Code Card Report

Please complete the information below and email form to the WIC Program FMNP Coordinator at the State WIC Office.

Local WIC Agency: ___________________________ Date: _____________

Name of person completing report: ___________________________________

Serial numbers of lost or stolen cards: #____________ through #__________

Site where cards were lost or stolen: _________________________________

Name of person who reported cards missing: __________________________

Date cards reported missing: _______________________________________

Please describe all the known information pertinent to the theft or loss of the missing cards, e.g. last place where cards were seen, activity occurring in the vicinity of cards prior to the loss or theft, etc.

Policy and Procedure 8.00D

Has been removed.