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Maryland Department of Agriculture

Maryland Food Donation Program

About the Maryland Food Donation Program

The Maryland Food Donation Program provides tax credits to farmers who donate eligible food products to food banks and food pantries certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA).

Farmers: Earn tax credits for donating food

Farmers may receive a Maryland income tax credit of up to $5,000 per year based on the value of their donated food, which MDA determines using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s wholesale price listings.

In certain cases, the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture may approve an increase, allowing a farm to receive up to $10,000 in total credits per year.

Certified food banks & pantries

Food banks and food pantries certified by the MDA for this program include:

  • Anne Arundel County Food Bank – 410-923-4255

  • Accokeek Food Pantry – 443-527-1907 / 301-292-6104

  • Capital Area Food Bank – 202-644-9802

  • Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry (Huntingtown) – 410-610-8107

  • DC Central Kitchen – 202-400-2804

  • Fort Washington Food Pantry – 301-567-0089

  • Greater Washington District UMM (Fulton) – 443-850-3745

  • John Wesley AME Zion Church (Baltimore) – 202-641-3129

  • Manna Food Center (Gaithersburg) – 240-491-1958

  • Maryland Food Bank – 443-735-0757

  • Rainbow Community Development Center (Silver Spring) – 301-625-2561

  • Shabach Emergency Resource Center (Landover) – 240-532-7003

  • Society of St. Andrew (Salisbury) – 410-713-0895

Nonprofits: How to participate 

Nonprofit organizations or charities accepting eligible food donations must become a Tax Credit Certificate Administrator (T​CCA). 

  1. Complete an Application for Tax Credit Certificate Administrator ​for the Maryland Food Donation Pilot Program and submit it to the Maryland Department of Agriculture Marketing Office, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21401 or email it to [email protected] 

  2. Upon approval by the MDA, your organization will receive a signed copy of the agreement and an assigned TCCA number.

  3. Submit eligible food donations from a qualified farm to the program using the​ Producer Donation Form​ - PDF - 151.32 KB.