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Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

What is it?

The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) began in 1992. Its goals are to provide WIC participants with fresh, nutritious foods from farmers' markets and to expand the awareness and use of farmers' markets.

How does it work?

Checks are issued to women and children participating in the Maine WIC Program. Each check is worth $5.00 and the total benefit ranges from $10.00 to $20.00.
Farmers who have met the authorization requirements and signed an agreement with the Maine WIC Program can accept the checks.

Authorized Farmers will display this sign:

How Do I Become an Authorized Farmer?

Farmers' can apply to become authorized to accept WIC FMNP's by calling 1-800-437-9300 and requesting an application. FMNP checks can be accepted at a farm stand as well as at an organized farmers' market.

Eligibility Requirements

• All fruits and vegetables sold at a farmers' market or individual farm stand must be grown in Maine. At least 75% of the product for sale by a farmer must be grown by that farmer or under his direction.
• The farmer must offer a variety of fruits and/or vegetables for sale.
• Individual farm stands must meet the following requirements:
  1. Farmer applicants must grow at least 75% of the product they offer for sale. Product not grown by the Farmer must have been grown under his/her direction or purchased directly from another Maine Farmer. Individuals who exclusively sell produce grown by someone else, such as wholesale distributors, cannot be authorized to participate in the FMNP.
  2. The Farmer applicant must not be in violation of other Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) programs such as Food Stamps.
  3. The Farmer applicant must not currently be disqualified or sanctioned by the Food Stamp Program.
  4. In order to remain eligible the farmer must redeem $50.00 per year of FMNP checks.

Farm Stand Authorization Rules

In order to make access to fresh fruits & vegetables easier for WIC participants, Maine may also authorize farmers to accept WIC checks at farm stands as well as at Farmers’ Markets.

This authorization is based on the need for a farm stand in a particular area where no or few farmers’ markets are located. Farm stands can be authorized in these areas so that WIC participants have more opportunity to use their FMNP checks. Authorized farm stands that consistently do little or no FMNP business, will not be reauthorized. The lack of business demonstrates that the need for that farm stand does not exist.

Farm stand authorization will be considered under the following conditions:

• At least 75% of the product offered for sale must have been grown by the Farmer or under his/her direction. Product not grown by the Farmer must be purchased directly from another Maine Farmer.
• The stand must be a permanent, enclosed structure with a roof dedicated solely to the sale of the farmer’s fruits and vegetables.
• The stand must have defined hours of operation & they must be posted
• The stand must have a defined season
• A full time attendant must be present during hours of operation

The WIC FMNP currently has 241 authorized farmers selling their product at 52 farmers' markets and over 90 farm stands throughout the state. During the 2003 season Maine farmers' transacted over $89,000 worth of WIC coupons.

What Can be Purchased?

Only fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables may be purchased with WIC FMNP checks. WIC participants cannot purchase fruits and vegetables that are not Maine grown such as oranges and bananas. WIC participants may not purchase processed foods, maple syrup, meats or cheese. Please see the listing below.

Many WIC participants forget what can and cannot be purchased. Sometimes they may choose oranges because their children enjoy them. But because the FMNP was begun, in part, to help local farmers', WIC participants must limit their selections to locally grown choices.

Many farmers find it helpful to mark their produce "Maine Grown". This helps WIC participants to identify authorized foods for sale.

Authorized Unprocessed Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

Apples Artichokes Asparagus Beans - green, yellow, shell Beets Blackberries Blueberries Broccoli Brussel Sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Corn Cucumbers

Eggplant Grapes Greens - beet, collard, swiss chard, kale Herbs - fresh (no dried or bedding plants) Kohrabi Leeks Lettuce Melons - cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew Mushrooms Onions Parsnips Peas Pears Peppers Plums

Potatoes Pumpkins Radishes Raspberries Rhubarb Rutabaga Scallions Shallots Spinach Strawberries Summer Squash Squash Tomatoes Turnips Winter Squash

Items Not Authorized for purchase with WIC Farmers' Market checks include:

Baked Goods Bedding Candied Apples Cheese Cider Dried Beans

Dried Herbs Eggs Honey Jams & Jellies Maple Syrup Meats

Nuts Pickles Plants Seafood Other Processed Foods

Application Process

1. The Farmer applicant will complete and return an FMNP Application for authorization to the Maine WIC Nutrition Program;
2. The state agency of the Maine WIC Nutrition Program will review the application and contact the Farmer applicant if any questions exist;
3. If approved for authorization the Farmer will receive a contract to sign and return, a copy of the Farmer Handbook and a sign to display at their stand/market.
4. The Farmer applicant returns the signed contract to the state agency. A representative of the state agency will also sign the contract. A copy of the signature page and an authorization stamp will be mailed to the Farmer.
5. The Farmer may now begin accepting WIC FMNP checks.

Upon acceptance as an authorized farmer we will send you a copy of the contract for your files, a sign to display at your stand so WIC participants can clearly see that you are a participating farmer, and a stamp bearing your authorization number. Each FMNP check you accept must be clearly stamped with this stamp in order for payment to be made. Checks are deposited with your bank just as you would a personal check.

Farmers' are responsible for training all staff. If a farmer requires assistance training their staff we will be happy to help. Just call us at 1-800-437-9300.

A representative from the WIC State Agency may visit you at a farmers' market or at your farm stand during the 2004 season. We are required to monitor 10% of authorized farmers and farmers' markets yearly. We are always happy to hear your comments or suggestions during these visits or at any time.

Where do I find Farmers' Markets and farmstands?

Please contact your Local WIC Agency for farmstands near you

 

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