AMS provides a voluntary shell egg grading service to packing plants that meet equipment and facility standards. USDA graders ensure that shell eggs labeled with the USDA grademark meet quality and grade standards.

AMS shell egg graders do not perform microbial tests for organisms such as salmonella, nor do they visit laying houses. Shell egg production facilities are overseen and inspected by FDA. No shell eggs purchased by AMS go to school food assistance programs. Any processed eggs that may be purchased are pasteurized under USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service oversight before going to school food assistance programs.

AMS administers the Shell Egg Surveillance program which provides an inspector visit to registered packing plants to verify that shell eggs packed for consumer use are Grade B or better quality; and that restricted eggs are being disposed of properly, and adequate records are being maintained.

Find information on the recent egg recall from FDA

Read more about egg safety

Find out where your eggs were graded

View our "Buy Quality Eggs with Confidence" Fact Sheet (PDF)

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) houses a large portion of the USDA's primary initiatives and programs supporting farmers markets. Within AMS, a staff of economists, agricultural marketing specialists, engineers, and architectural design experts research, study, and analyze direct-marketing opportunities and offer technical assistance to farmers and producers, including farmers market stakeholders. AMS also administers the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), a grant program designed to promote domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities.

Listen to a recent interview discussing our programs

Learn more about our farmers market program

Learn more about the Farmers Market Promotion Program