Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) To become
authorized to accept fruit and vegetable vouchers as distributed by a health
care system under WAC
246-770-050, a retailer must:
(a) Apply as a retailer on a form provided by
the department including documentation that the retailer meets the following
criteria:
(i) Have a point-of-sale mechanism
that allows either automated or manual tracking and redemption of fruit and
vegetable vouchers;
(ii) Have a
designated staff member on-site during operating hours that has completed all
required fruit and vegetable voucher training; and
(iii) Sells fresh fruits and
vegetables.
(b) Complete
all required trainings on fruit and vegetable vouchers requirements offered by
the department; and
(c) Execute a
contract with the department.
(2) The department is not required to
authorize all applicants. Selection is based on available funding and community
need and preferences.
(3) An
authorized retailer must reapply at the end of the contract period; however,
neither the department nor the participant has an obligation to renew a
contract.
(4) An authorized
retailer must, at a minimum:
(a) Comply with
the fruit and vegetable voucher requirements and the terms of their
contract;
(b) Accept annual
training and other technical assistance on fruit and vegetable voucher
requirements from department staff;
(c) Provide training to employees and
volunteers on fruit and vegetable vouchers requirements including, but not
limited to, eligible foods, redemption procedures, data tracking and evaluation
requirements;
(d) Be accountable
for the actions of employees and volunteers;
(e) Ensure fruit and vegetable vouchers are
redeemed only once;
(f) Comply with
federal and state nondiscrimination laws;
(g) Ensure that participants receive the same
courtesies as other customers;
(h)
Promptly provide the department, upon request, with any information it has
available regarding its participation in accepting fruit and vegetable
vouchers;
(i) Allow the department
to share information about the retailer related to fruit and vegetable vouchers
with program partners and in public reports;
(j) Allow the department to monitor the
retailer for compliance with fruit and vegetable voucher requirements and
fiscal recordkeeping;
(k) Notify
the department immediately if the retailer's operations cease; and
(l) Comply with department instructions with
respect to the program.
(5) Authorized retailers that do not comply
with requirements in this chapter are subject to termination of their contract.
Noncompliance includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Violating the provisions of the contract;
or
(b) Accepting fruit and
vegetable vouchers without having a signed contract with the
department.
(6) Prior to
contract termination, the department must consider whether termination of a
contract would create undue hardships to participants.
(7) Any trafficking in fruit and vegetable
vouchers in any amount will result in termination of a contract.
(8) An authorized retailer that has a
terminated contract may re-apply for reauthorization.
