Veggies

Specialty Crops Program

The AMS Specialty Crops Program helps buyers and sellers of all sizes in the U.S. produce industry to market their perishable products in the most efficient manner. We partner with State agencies and other industry organizations for the benefit of nationwide growers, shippers, brokers, receivers, processors, retailers and restaurants, direct to consumer sales, and the foodservice industry.

The program offers a wide array of services that span from helping market the quality of products to ensuring that there is fair trade in the produce industry. The program also helps specialty crops  growers and handlers to combine their resources to help their respective industries overcome marketing barriers.
 

Contact Information

Specialty Crops Program
USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Room 2077-South, Stop 0235
Washington, D.C. 20250-0235
 
Deputy Administrator
Charles W. Parrott
Phone: (202) 720-4722
FAX: (202) 720-0016
 
Associate Deputy Administrator
Melissa R. Bailey, Ph.D.
E-mail: melissa.bailey@ams.usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-6393
FAX: (202) 720-0016
 
Associate Deputy Administrator
Commodity Procurement/Industry Relations
Christopher Purdy
E-mail: Christopher.Purdy@ams.usda.gov
Phone :( 202)720-3209
FAX :( 202)720-0565
 
Market News Division
Terry Long, Director
Phone: (202) 720-2745
FAX: (202) 720-0547
 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division
Michael Durando, Director
Phone: (202) 720-2491
FAX: (202) 720-8938
 
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Division
Judith W. Rudman, Director
Phone: (202) 720-9404
Fax: (202) 720-8868
 
Promotion and Economics Division
Heather Pichelman, Director
E-mail:  heather.pichelman@ams.usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-9915
FAX: (202) 205-2800
 
Specialty Crops Inspection Division (Full Contact List)
Lorenzo A. Tribbett, Director
Phone: (202) 720-5870
FAX: (202) 720-0393