Apply for WIC
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene WIC pages contain information on how to apply for the program.
To qualify for the Maryland WIC program, participants must be categorically eligible: pregnant women; women up to six months from the end of their pregnancy; breastfeeding moms (up to one year after delivery), infants, and children under the age of five. Participants must live in Maryland and their gross income before taxes must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. Effective April 2011, new income guidelines were issued. Participants in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps), Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, automatically meet the income eligibility requirement. You can be a father, mother, guardian, or grandparent and apply for benefits for an infant or child under the age of 5.
Use WIC at Farmers’ Markets
WIC participants can redeem both their WIC Fruit and Vegetable checks (FVC) and the checks they receive from the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP) at local authorized farmers’ markets. The WIC FMNP increased the dollar amount of WIC FMNP checks to $20 per participant (up to $40 per household) for the market season.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture's 2011 Farmers’ Market Directory contains a listing of all farmers’ markets in Maryland which accept WIC FVC, WIC FMNP and other federal nutrition benefits, as well as Resources and contact information for farmers and market managers interested in accepting WIC. USDA's website also has information on using WIC at farmers' markets.
To learn more about accepting WIC FMNP at your market, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at (410) 841-5770. To accept WIC FVC, contact the WIC vendor unit at (410) 767-5242.
The Maryland WIC Program and Maryland Farmers’ Markets are working together to maximize the benefits that WIC participants receive. The WIC FMNP goal is to provide easier access to fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables and to raise awareness of and attendance at Maryland’s farmers’ markets.
WIC Data
WIC participation by county from Maryland Hunger Solutions.
National WIC participation data from the Food Research and Action Center:
Additional Resources
- Maryland WIC - information on applying for WIC, eligibility requirements, and more about WIC in Maryland.
- USDA WIC website section.
- WIC for a Healthier, Stronger America (pdf) - Shows the critical role WIC plays in building a better future for America’s children and contains additional information and related charts from the National WIC Association.
- Food Research and Action Center’s WIC website section
