[ { "page": 1, "items": [ { "page": 1, "type": "FIGURE", "location": { "l": 28.8, "t": 755.76, "r": 589.44, "b": 15.6 }, "text": "", "alt": "This is a decision tree titled \"Maryland Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Rule Eligibility and Exemption Flow Chart.\" A label box near the top reads \"Part I.\" The Maryland Department of Agriculture logo sits in the title header.\n\nThe flow begins at a green diamond labeled \"Start.\" An arrow leads down to the first decision box, which reads: \"Does your farm grow, harvest, pack, or hold produce? (fruits, vegetables, microgreens, mushrooms, sprouts, nuts, and herbs) Sections 112.1 and 112.3(c). Complete the Produce Safety Rule Registration Form.\"\n\nFrom that first box, a NO branch leads right to a red STOP octagon reading: \"STOP You are not covered by the Produce Safety Rule.\" That is a terminal end.\n\nThe YES branch from the first box leads down to the next decision box: \"Is it for personal consumption only?\"\n\nFrom \"Is it for personal consumption only?\", the YES branch leads to a green YES marker and then up to the same red STOP octagon \"STOP You are not covered by the Produce Safety Rule,\" a terminal end.\n\nFrom \"Is it for personal consumption only?\", the NO branch leads left to the next decision box: \"Is any of the produce you grow and sell usually consumed raw?\"\n\nFrom \"Is any of the produce you grow and sell usually consumed raw?\", the NO branch leads right to a red octagon reading: \"Produce that is rarely consumed raw, as listed on the exhaustive list in Section 112.2 is not covered by the Produce Safety Rule (e.g., asparagus, beets, corn, eggplant, okra, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash). Complete the Non-Covered Commodities Exemption if you are only growing produce that is on the exhaustive list. Reassess eligibility if new crops are grown.\" That is a terminal end.\n\nFrom \"Is any of the produce you grow and sell usually consumed raw?\", the YES branch leads down and right to the next decision box: \"Is your three-year average of gross produce sales less than $33,297 (dagger). (dagger)Adjusted for inflation (Based on 2022, 2023, 2024).\"\n\nFrom that sales question, the YES branch leads right to a red-bordered octagon reading: \"You are exempt from the Produce Safety Rule. Complete the Sales Value Exemption form annually as it applies.\" That is a terminal end.\n\nFrom that sales question, the NO branch leads down to a box reading: \"My three-year average of gross produce sales is greater than $33,297 (dagger).\" From that box a YES marker leads left to the terminal box \"Proceed to Part II.\"\n\nOutside the flow, a footnote box at the bottom right reads: \"This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007444 totaling $1,280,384 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.\"", "description_nodes": [ "Start", "Does your farm grow, harvest, pack, or hold produce? (fruits, vegetables, microgreens, mushrooms, sprouts, nuts, and herbs) Sections 112.1 and 112.3(c). Complete the Produce Safety Rule Registration Form", "STOP You are not covered by the Produce Safety Rule", "Is it for personal consumption only?", "Is any of the produce you grow and sell usually consumed raw?", "Produce that is rarely consumed raw, as listed on the exhaustive list in Section 112.2 is not covered by the Produce Safety Rule (e.g., asparagus, beets, corn, eggplant, okra, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash). Complete the Non-Covered Commodities Exemption if you are only growing produce that is on the exhaustive list. Reassess eligibility if new crops are grown.", "Is your three-year average of gross produce sales less than $33,297. Adjusted for inflation (Based on 2022, 2023, 2024)", "You are exempt from the Produce Safety Rule. Complete the Sales Value Exemption form annually as it applies", "My three-year average of gross produce sales is greater than $33,297", "Proceed to Part II" ], "description_source": "claude-opus-4-8", "description_kind": "decision tree", "has_long_description": true, "reading_order": 0 } ] }, { "page": 2, "items": [ { "page": 2, "type": "FIGURE", "location": { "l": 0, "t": 792, "r": 612.216, "b": 0 }, "text": "", "alt": "This is a decision tree titled \"Part II Qualified Exemption Eligibility,\" produced by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (its logo appears at the top right). It determines whether a farm is covered by the Produce Safety Rule or eligible for a Qualified Exemption.\n\nThe flow begins at a green diamond labeled \"Start.\"\n\nFrom Start, an arrow leads down to the first decision box: \"Does your farm on average (in the previous three years) as per Section 112.5, have more than $33,297 and less than $665,947 annual food* sales? Adjusted for inflation (Based on 2022, 2023, 2024).\"\n\nThis box has two exits. A \"NO higher sales\" branch (shown as a red circle) goes down and left to the final red octagon stop node. A \"YES\" branch (green circle) goes down to the next decision box.\n\nBeside the first question sits a blue circle labeled \"Define\" that points to an aside box (outside the main flow, in a blue outline) reading: \"*Food as defined in section 201(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and includes seeds and beans used to grow sprouts. (f) The term 'food' means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals. (E.g., produce, eggs, dairy, meat, honey, processed or homemade foods (jams, pickled items, baked goods…), beverages, foods/drinks purchased for resale (commercially produce and/or purchased from other farms…), sales of live food animals, and animal feed such as pet milk, hay, silage, grain…)\". This aside is a definition and is not part of the decision flow.\n\nThe second decision box reads: \"Do you sell to Qualified End Users? Qualified End Users include: Farm Stands, Farmers Markets, CSAs, Restaurants and/or Retailers in MD or not more than 275 miles from the farm.\"\n\nThis box has two exits. A \"NO\" branch (red circle) goes left and then down to the final red octagon stop node. A \"YES\" branch (green circle) goes down to the next decision box.\n\nThe third decision box reads: \"Do you sell to Non-Qualified End Users? Non-Qualified End Users include: Wholesale Distributors, Brokers, Produce Auctions, any sales (including Restaurants and/or Retailers) more than 275 miles from the farm.\"\n\nThis box has two exits. A \"NO\" branch (red circle) goes right and then down to the yellow-outlined Qualified Exemption result box. A \"YES\" branch (green circle) goes down to the next decision box.\n\nThe fourth decision box reads: \"Are the majority (≥51%) of total food sales to Qualified End Users (QEU) or Non-Qualified End Users (NQEU)?\"\n\nThis box has two exits, drawn as two large orange arrows. The left orange arrow reads \"More sales (≥51%) to NQEU\" and points down-left to the red octagon stop node. The right orange arrow reads \"More sales (≥51%) to QEU\" and points to the yellow Qualified Exemption result box.\n\nThe red octagon (stop sign) terminal node reads: \"Your farm IS COVERED by the Produce Safety Rule and subject to the full requirements of 21 CFR Part 112.\" It is reached from the \"NO higher sales\" branch of question 1, the \"NO\" branch of question 2, and the \"More sales (≥51%) to NQEU\" outcome of question 4.\n\nThe yellow-outlined terminal node reads: \"You are eligible for a Qualified Exemption under Section 112.5 and must meet the requirements of Section 112.6. Complete the Qualified Exemption form annually as it applies. Documentation must be submitted each year to be eligible. Without documentation on file, it is assumed your operation is fully COVERED by the Produce Safety Rule.\" It is reached from the \"NO\" branch of question 3 and the \"More sales (≥51%) to QEU\" outcome of question 4.\n\nAt the bottom center, outside the flow, is a funding disclaimer in small print: \"This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007444 totaling $1,280,384 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.\"", "description_nodes": [ "Start", "Does your farm on average (in the previous three years) as per Section 112.5, have more than $33,297 and less than $665,947 annual food* sales? Adjusted for inflation (Based on 2022, 2023, 2024)", "Do you sell to Qualified End Users? Qualified End Users include: Farm Stands, Farmers Markets, CSAs, Restaurants and/or Retailers in MD or not more than 275 miles from the farm.", "Do you sell to Non-Qualified End Users? Non-Qualified End Users include: Wholesale Distributors, Brokers, Produce Auctions, any sales (including Restaurants and/or Retailers) more than 275 miles from the farm.", "Are the majority (≥51%) of total food sales to Qualified End Users (QEU) or Non-Qualified End Users (NQEU)?", "More sales (≥51%) to NQEU", "More sales (≥51%) to QEU", "Your farm IS COVERED by the Produce Safety Rule and subject to the full requirements of 21 CFR Part 112", "You are eligible for a Qualified Exemption under Section 112.5 and must meet the requirements of Section 112.6. Complete the Qualified Exemption form annually as it applies. Documentation must be submitted each year to be eligible. Without documentation on file, it is assumed your operation is fully COVERED by the Produce Safety Rule" ], "description_source": "claude-opus-4-8", "description_kind": "decision tree", "has_long_description": true, "reading_order": 0 } ] } ]