Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "Adverse Action" means an action taken by the department in the administration of the SFMNP having a negative impact on a farmer, participant, or local agency that has an agreement.

(2) "Agreement" means a written legal document or contract binding the farmer, participant, or local agency and the local agency or department to designated terms and conditions.

(3) "Application" means a written request submitted on a form provided by the department or local agencies indicating interest in participating in SFMNP either as a senior as defined in (14) or a farmer as defined in (9).

(4) "Bulk purchase program" means a program model in which bulk quantities of certain produce items are purchased directly from authorized farmers by the local agency and are then equitably divided among and distributed directly to eligible SFMNP participants.

(5) "Coupon" means a voucher or other negotiable financial instrument by which benefits are issued under the SFMNP.

(6) "Department" means the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Aging Services Bureau.

(7) "Disqualification" means the act of terminating the agreement of an authorized farmer, participant, or local agency for noncompliance with program requirements.

(8) "Eligible foods" means fresh, nutritious, unprocessed, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs for human consumption.

(9) "Farmer" means an individual residing within Montana authorized by the department to sell eligible fruit and vegetables at a participating farmers' market to a participant at a farmers' market.

(10) "Local agency" means any nonprofit or local government agency that is contracted to certify an eligible participant, issue coupons, or arrange for distribution of eligible foods through a Bulk Purchase Program.

(11) "Locally grown" means grown in the state of Montana.

(12) "Participant" means a person or household who meets the eligibility requirements of the SFMNP and to whom coupons or bulk purchase have been issued.

(13) "Proxy" means an individual authorized by an eligible senior to act on the senior's behalf, including application for certification, receipt of SFMNP coupons, and use of SFMNP coupons at authorized outlets as long as the benefits are ultimately received by the eligible senior.

(14) "Senior" means an individual 60 years of age or older.

(15) "Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)" means the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program authorized by 7 U.S.C. 3007, and provided in 7 CFR 249.

(16) "SFMNP state plan" means the annual state plan for SFMNP that describes the manner in which the department intends to implement all aspects of program administration within its jurisdiction in accordance with 7 CFR 249.

(17) "Summer farmers' market" means an association of local farmers who assemble at a defined location for the purpose of selling their produce directly to consumers during the summer market season.

(18) "Violation" means an activity that is prohibited by participant, farmer, or local agency SFMNP agreement and 7 CFR 249.