The Maine Department of Human Services and the Maine Department of Agriculture cooperate to sponsor the Maine WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. Using federal funding, these special WIC checks are given to folks who already qualify for the regular WIC checks, which are redemable in stores for specified products. The Farmers' Market WIC Checks are usually issued to recipients in May through August as they come in for their regular WIC checks.

Farmer's Market WIC Checks are spendable only at farmers' markets and farm stands and can be used only for fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and herbs. They come in denominations of $5 and, like a personal check, they get signed by the user when the purchase is made. The farmer then deposits them like a regular check after stamping them with a unique number issued to each farmer by the WIC program.

For all the details of the program, go to www.WICforME.com/farmers.htm or call 800- 437-9300 and ask for Dawn Mulcahey. There is no deadline during the year for joining.