Legal & Policy Resources
A curated, searchable database of gleaning-related federal and state laws, legal and policy resources, and research organizations.
Fighting Food Waste in Restaurants: Donation Guidance
This guide describes how to efficiently donate excess food from a restaurant to a local food donation program to help solve chronic hunger in the U.S. Plus, specific resources for the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia food donation resources.
Type: Non-Legal Research & Resources Region: National State: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia Citation: National Restaurant Association and World Wildlife Fund, "WWF and NRA Fighting Food Waste in Restaurasnts: Donation Guidance"
Harvesting/Gleaning Organization Directory
Directory of major gleaning operations across the U.S. and organizations that harvest, collect, rescue, or recover fruit or produce for charitable purposes.
Type: Non-Legal Research & Resources Region: National State: Arizona, California, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
Maryland – Liability of Farmer Allowing Food Collection
This law protects a farmer who permits a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to enter the farmer's property for the purpose of gleaning, without compensation, from civil liability for any injury in connection with such gleaning while on the property unless the injury results from willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against any dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity.
Type: State Laws & Regulations Region: Mid-Atlantic State: Maryland Citation: MD. CODE ANN. CTS. & JUD. PROC. § 5-404 (1997).
Maryland – Liability of Food Donor
This law protects a person who donates, prepares, serves, or dispenses food to a nonprofit corporation, organization, or association that uses and distributes such food without charge from civil liability arising from the condition of the food, except in cases of gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct.
Type: State Laws & Regulations Region: Mid-Atlantic State: Maryland Citation: MD. CODE ANN. CTS. & JUD. PROC. § 5-634 (1997).
Maryland – Tax Credit for Taxpayers Who Donate to Food Bank
This law establishes a tax incentive for the donation of farm products to a gleaning organization. The law provides that an individual may subtract from their adjusted gross income, for state tax purposes, the amount by which the wholesale market value of the donation exceeds the amount they claim as a deduction for federal tax purposes. To claim the deduction, the filer must include a statement from the gleaning organization certifying the amount donated and that it will be distributed for free to needy individuals, and a statement from the Maryland Department of Agriculture certifying the wholesale market value of the donation.
Type: State Laws & Regulations Region: Mid-Atlantic State: Maryland Citation: MD. CODE ANN. TAX-GEN. § 10-208(g) (2019).
