AMP utilized the manufacture of food items to create opportunities for severely disabled in the development of work skills, vocational services and a better quality of life.

[9] Senator Javits led the efforts to expand the older law, which applied only to blind persons, and covered supplies but not services.

[11] AMP is the first non-profit agency in the country to operate a USDA-approved facility for the production of manufactured goods sold to the feeding programs of the US Government and private industry.

[12] AMP first began in 1992 as ARC-Diversified, the first non-profit corporation in the United States to operate as a USDA-approved manufacturer of goods sold to government and private feeding programs.

As of November 2009, AMP has gained back many of its former customers and has been working to stabilize production, operate transparently, and continue to supply jobs to individuals with severe disabilities.

According to public files with the Excluded Parties List System, the USDA Farm Services Agency has suspended AMP's contract "pending completion of investigation or legal proceedings pursuant to FAR 9.407-2, GPO Instructions 110.11A or 39 CFR 601.113 and based on an indictment for, or adequate evidence of, the commission of fraud, antitrust violations, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, false statements or other offenses indicating a lack of business integrity or adequate evidence of any other cause of a serious and compelling nature."