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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 15.01.21.02" title_num="15" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="21" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Department” means Maryland Department of Agriculture.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Eligible Cost” means a cost:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>To secure real property, limited to 20 percent of the grant amount;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>To make capital improvements;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For operating expenses, limited to 15 percent of the amount of the grant; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>That maintains safe, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible practices.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Farm product” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Any agricultural, horticultural, vegetable, or fruit product of the soil, whether raw or canned, frozen, dried, pickled, or otherwise processed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Livestock, meats, marine food products, poultry, eggs, or dairy products;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Wool, hides, feathers, nuts, or honey; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Every product of farm, forest, orchard, garden, or water.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Healthy Food Priority Area” means a census tract in which:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>At least 25 percent of the residents qualify as low-income according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau survey; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Accessibility to supermarkets, grocery stores, or other sources of healthy affordable food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, is limited (which may be determined using measurements and indicators that can be found in the Food Access Research Atlas published by the USDA Economic Research Service).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Program” means the Urban Agriculture Grant Program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Qualified nonprofit organization” means a nonprofit organization that is organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes under §501(c)(3) of the United States Code and operates a farm or community garden in an urban area.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Safe, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible practices” include those that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Aim to minimize negative impacts on the environment such as practices that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Promote soil health;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Prevent soil erosion; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Manage water resources (e.g., utilize efficient irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation);</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Ensure fair treatment of workers; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Support local communities by providing locally produced fruits and vegetables.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Socially disadvantaged urban farmer” means an urban agricultural producer who is a limited resource farmer (e.g., a farmer who has low household income and low gross farm sales), and may include a beginning farmer who is similarly situated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Steward” means the owner of the land or a person who has control and possession of the land through a written lease.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Urban agricultural producer” means any person that annually sells, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of farm products in an urban area.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Urban area” means an area of the State that is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Delineated as an urban area by the U.S. Census Bureau; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Within the boundaries of a municipal corporation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>