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Marketing Orders and Agreements

And while competition has always been the hallmark of the U.S. free market economy, with businesses of all types and sizes vying for success, sometimes partnering with others will...

By Michael Durando, Director, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, USDA

December 7, 2016

1 minute read

And while competition has always been the hallmark of the U.S. free market economy, with businesses of all types and sizes vying for success, sometimes partnering with others will boost a commodity group’s opportunities for success.

Marketing orders and agreements are flexible enough to fix situations now and to position commodity groups for future accomplishments. They can create efficiencies in marketing specialty crops, and make the industry more profitable as a whole, strengthening the economic foundation of rural communities. Through these programs, the USDA continues to “help farmers help themselves” and supports the Agricultural Marketing Service’s mission.

Michael Durando serves the USDA as the director of its Marketing Order and Agreement Division in the Agricultural Marketing Service. In this capacity, he oversees the administration of 46 regulatory programs, including 29 federal marketing orders for fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops and 14 related import programs, two inspection programs for exported apples and table grapes, and the U.S. Peanut Standards compliance program.