Project Description

Deputy Administrator, Transportation & Marketing, Agricultural Marketing Service

Tricia Kovacs is the Deputy Administrator for Transportation and Marketing in USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), a position she has held since 2020. She leads programs that support local and regional food systems, grants to support market access for farmers, USDA’s Regional Food Business Centers, and research and data analysis on agricultural transportation and markets. Tricia joined USDA in 2016 as local and regional food systems policy advisor, where she coordinated efforts across USDA to support the local and regional food sector. In 2021-2022, she held a 1-year assignment as a Senior Policy Advisor for Agriculture and Rural Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council. Prior to joining USDA, Tricia managed Regional Markets programs at Washington State Department of Agriculture, where she was founding Program Manager for the state Farm to School Program and led the Small Farm Direct Marketing Program.