Richard Peterson

Richard Peterson serves as a key procurement professional within the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overseeing the acquisition of processed and preserved agricultural commodities essential to federal nutrition assistance programs. His responsibilities center on managing competitive contracting actions for shelf-stable, frozen, and canned food products that meet stringent federal safety and nutritional standards. He plays a critical role in ensuring a reliable, resilient supply chain of perishable prepared foods to support programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and child nutrition initiatives. His acquisitions are predominantly governed by full and open competition, with a focus on industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities and cold-chain logistics compliance. Peterson maintains a consistent working relationship with Navcor Logistics LLC, a primary contractor for the end-to-end procurement, processing, and distribution of frozen and canned agricultural products. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established manufacturers with proven capacity in food safety protocols, HACCP compliance, and USDA inspection readiness. These partnerships are characterized by long-term performance reliability and adherence to federal food procurement specifications, with minimal reliance on subcontracting networks. His procurement strategy shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-driven emphasis on scale, consistency, and regulatory compliance over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing the uninterrupted delivery of high-volume, standardized food products to vulnerable populations. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311991 (Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing), 311411 (Frozen Fruit, Vegetable, and Juice Manufacturing), and 311421 (Fruit and Vegetable Canning), with additional activity in fats and oils refining and roasted nut production. He specializes in sourcing industrially processed, shelf-stable commodities that meet USDA’s technical specifications for nutrient retention, packaging integrity, and shelf life, demonstrating deep domain expertise in food manufacturing supply chains and federal food procurement standards.