The Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association (MGFPA) has named Christine Cummings its new executive director. Cummings will work closely with outgoing Executive Director Shelley Doak during a transition period. Doak is leaving Maine—moving to Denver, Colorado, to be near her family.

Cummings will transition from the Retail Association of Maine, where she began in 2015. She has served as membership and program manager for the last 18 months, working closely with the MGFPA team. She has assisted in managing events and membership customer service as well as crafting marketing materials. Her work experience ranges from public relations, media buys, print and social media management to graphic design and sales assistance.

“We’re excited to welcome Christine into her new leadership role with MGFPA,” the group says in a statement.“Her familiarity with the association and members will prove valuable. The board looks forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for our association with a fresh perspective. We’re also very pleased to have an association management arrangement with the Retail Association of Maine to provide enhanced administrative services so vital to our organization.”

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As you know, we have been working with the Keep Maine Competitive Coalition to help pursue a legislative solution to the impacts Maine is set to face with the newly approved 3% surtax on incomes greater than $200,000.   Under the current law, Maine now has the 2nd highest income tax rate in the country at 10.15%.  As a result, we have heard from numerous business owners who are moving their operations elsewhere to escape the unreasonable tax, and we have joined the coalition to help remove the 3% tax and ensure Maine businesses stay here and continue to produce Maine jobs.

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Shelley Doak is stepping down as the Executive Director of the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association on June 30, 2017. Shelley is moving to Colorado to live near her family and we wish her the very best. The Board Search Committee is soliciting for a new Executive Director. View the Job Posting. Interested candidates should submit their application to info@mgfpa.org by March 24th. All inquiries should be made to info@mgfpa.org.

Best Regards,
Jim Lesser, Board President

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According to the National Grocers Association, on Monday, February 13 notice of appeal was officially filed with the 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals in an effort to prevent the release of retailer SNAP redemption data that NGA strongly considers to be proprietary and confidential information. The Court will issue a briefing schedule next, at which time NGA will begin drafting an amicus brief in support of the appeal. Briefs will likely be due 40-60 days after the schedule is released. The Court may also set a date for oral arguments. During this appeal, USDA is withholding release of any retailer sales data.

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Last night, January 30, Judge Schreier issued a stay of her order in the Argus Leader Media vs USDA lawsuit. You will recall that the Argus Leader newspaper in South Dakota had sued USDA for SNAP retailer redemption data by location. NGA has long fought the release of this data arguing retailer sales data is proprietary and confidential information and should be exempt from any FIOA request.

Late Friday (January 27) night a motion to intervene in the case was filed by FMI. As you will recall, NGA has been very involved in this case from the beginning and supported the legal recommendation of our counsel and others to have FMI file the motion to intervene given NGA’s involvement in the case, including testifying at the trial. We all thought this would likely be our best shot at success. NGA filed an affidavit in support of the motion as did another NGA member and a number of other retailers. The judge grated the motion last night which gives FMI 15 days to file an appeal.

Because of the Court’s action no retailer information will be released today by USDA as had been previously planned.

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