The following definitions apply throughout this chapter unless otherwise specified:
(1) "Authorized farm stand" means a farm stand in Washington that has met the selection criteria established by the department and has signed a contract with the department allowing participation in basic food incentives.
(2) "Authorized farmers' market" means a farmers' market in Washington that has met the selection criteria established by the department and has signed a contract with the department allowing participation in basic food incentives.
(3) "Authorized grocery store" means a grocery store in Washington that has met the selection criteria established by the department and has signed a contract with the department allowing participation in basic food incentives.
(4) "Authorized health care system" means an organization whose primary intent is to deliver health care services.
(5) "Authorized retailer" means any retail outlet that has met the selection criteria established by the department and has signed a contract with the department allowing participation in fruit and vegetable vouchers.
(6) "Basic food incentives" includes farmers' market basic food incentives and grocery store basic food incentives.
(7) "County with high food insecurity" means a county located within the borders of the state of Washington where the resident population experiences rates of food insecurity higher than the state average.
(8) "Culturally relevant" means the acknowledgment and appreciation of experiences, traditions, and diverse preferences of a group of people.
(9) "Department" means the Washington state department of health.
(10) "Electronic benefit transfer" means the method of transferring basic food benefits from eligible participants to eligible participating retailers via a benefits card.
(11) "Eligible fruits and vegetables" means:
(a) For farmers market basic food incentives, eligible fruits and vegetables means fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, and seeds that produce food.
(b) For grocery store basic food incentives and fruit and vegetable vouchers, eligible fruits and vegetables means fruits and vegetables that are unprocessed or minimally processed including, but not limited to, frozen or cut products.
(12) "Eligible participant" means:
(a) For basic food incentives, a recipient of basic food benefits, including the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the food assistance program, as authorized under Title
74 RCW;
(b) For fruit and vegetable vouchers, a person who is determined to be experiencing food insecurity by a participating health care provider.
(13) "Farmers' market basic food incentives" means incentives provided to basic food program beneficiaries at authorized farmers' markets and farm stands to improve beneficiaries' purchase of eligible fruits and vegetables.
(14) "Food insecurity" means the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods with dignity and without resorting to emergency food supplies or other coping strategies.
(15) "Fruit and vegetable vouchers" means cash-value benefits given to patients of approved health care systems to improve patient access to eligible fruit and vegetables.
(16) "Grocery store basic food incentives" means incentives provided to basic food program beneficiaries at approved grocery stores to improve beneficiaries' ability to purchase eligible fruits and vegetables.
(17) "Health care system" includes participating health care providers, health educators, community health workers, or other health professionals who provide care to patients who experience food insecurity.
(18) "High food insecurity" means food insecurity rates higher than the state average.
(19) "Qualifying health condition" means any diet-related health condition including, but not limited to, diabetes mellitus, prediabetes, and hypertension.
(20) "Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP)" means the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
(21) "Trafficking" means the purchase or exchange of basic food incentives or fruit and vegetable vouchers for cash or other compensation.