Farmer Application Package Details

The FMNP provides paper checks for WIC and Senior participants to purchase fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables from June through November. This program expands the awareness of the variety of local fruits and vegetables that can be found at farmers markets and has the potential to increase farmer sales.

There are two United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs available for farmers to participate in:      

- The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for WIC and Seniors (SFMNP)              

- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Fruit & Vegetable Benefit (FVB)

The FMNP provides paper checks for WIC and Senior participants to purchase fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables from June through November. This program expands the awareness of the variety of local fruits and vegetables that can be found at farmers markets and has the potential to increase farmer sales.

In addition to the FMNP checks, the WIC Program provides fruit and vegetable benefits electronically to WIC participants to purchase fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and grocery stores throughout the year. The system used to process electronic WIC benefits is known as eWIC.

Only Farmers authorized by or applying for authorization by the Maryland State Department of Agriculture (MDA) to accept FMNP checks (WIC FMNP & Senior FMNP) are eligible to submit an application to the WIC Program requesting approval to accept eWIC FVBs. To simplify the process for you, one application has been created that is shared between the two Departments and allows you to apply for FMNP or FMNP and WIC FVBs at the same time. Participation in the WIC Program to accept FVBs is not required.