Harley T. Dalton and Ruthella D. Dalton T/a Dalton's Market v. United States, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service

DONALD RUSSELL, Circuit Judge:

The plaintiff/appellants are the operators of a retail grocery store near Blackstone, Virginia. They were approved participants in the Federal Food Stamp Program, established under 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 et seq., the administration of which has been committed to the Secretary of Agriculture, 7 U.S.C. § 2012(Z). Under the program a participating retail store such as that of the plaintiffs may accept in payment for eligible food purchases food stamps issued under the program at the full face value. The acceptance of stamps in payment for ineligible items, on the other…